Prime Minister

Domestic Visits: North Down

Lady Hermon: To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to visit North Down constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Cameron: I regularly visit all parts of the United Kingdom. My last visit to Northern Ireland was in April.

SG First Minister: Diplomatic Relations

Peter Grant: To ask the Prime Minister, which current Ministers were aware of the content of the memorandum written by a Scotland Office civil servant on 6 March 2015, containing an account of the meeting between the Scottish First Minister and the French Ambassador before it was leaked to the press.

Mr David Cameron: I refer the hon. Member to the press release published by the Cabinet Office and Scotland Office on 22 May 2015, which can be accessed via the gov.uk website.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Press

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which journals, periodicals and newspapers his Department subscribes to; how many copies of each such periodical and newspaper his Department receives each day; and what the cost of subscribing to such newspapers, journals and periodicals was in 2014.

Justin Tomlinson: One print copy (on a weekly or less regular basis) or online subscription is received for each of the titles listed below, except where indicated: .Net - British Ed - England - Print + Online (2 subscriptions)Adviser - EnglandBMJ : British Medical Journal - General Practice EditionBusiness Transfers & Employee RightsButterworths Civil Court PrecedentsCivil Service WorldCommon Market Law ReviewCommunity Care Law ReportsCurrent Law - Service BCurrent Law - Service CCurrent Law - Service D - StatutesCurrent Law Complete Service - Service ACurrent Law YearbookDisability & Rehabilitation Full SetDisability & SocietyDisability and Rehabilitation: Assistive TechnologyDiscrimination: Guide to Relevant Case LawEC Public Procurement: Law and PracticeEconomist (5 print subscriptions, 1 online)Encyclopedia of Data Protection & PrivacyEqual Opportunities ReviewEuropean Journal of Social SecurityEuropean Journal of Work & Organizational PsychologyFreedom of Information - EnglandGazette - Law SocietyHealth & Safety BulletinHealth Service JournalHousing StudiesHousing Theory & SocietyHuman Rights PracticeInside Housing - UKInternational Journal of Housing PolicyJournal of Community Care Law and PracticeJournal of Social Policy comes with Social Policy & SocietyJournal of Social Security Law (3 subscriptions)Journal of Welfare Benefits Law and PracticeJudicial Review - EN - Print + Online /for Institutions/JunctureKemp & Kemp: Quantum of DamagesLaw of Pension SchemesLegal Action: The Journal of the Legal Action GroupMedical Law ReportsModern Law ReviewMoney Marketing - UKNAPF Pensions Legislation ServiceNational Institute Economic ReviewNew Law JournalNew Statesman (2 subscriptions)NewsweekOccupational PensionsOxford Economic PapersPensions Expert (2 subscriptions)Pensions Law ReportsPrivacy Laws & Business International Newsletter comes with Privacy Laws and Business Newsletter - Uk edPrivate Eye (3 subscriptions)Public Private PartnershipsQuantum NewsletterRecords Management JournalRenton & Brown Criminal Procedure and Criminal Procedure LegislationReview of Mental Health Law and PracticeSen MagazineSocial Care Law Today - England edSocial Policy and Society - Print + OnlineSocial Policy Digest - OnlineSolicitors' JournalSpectator (3 subscriptions)Time MagazineTolley's Pension Law ServiceTolley's Social Security and State BenefitsTransfer of UndertakingsWelfare Rights BulletinWhich?Work and StressWork Employment & Society Daily and Sunday newspapers received: Daily Express3 daily copies, 1 Saturday copyDaily Mail5 daily copies, 1 Saturday copyDaily Mirror4 daily copies, 1 Saturday copyDaily Star1 daily copy, 1 Saturday copyDaily Telegraph6 daily copies, 2 Saturday copiesFinancial Times8 daily copies, 2 Saturday copiesGuardian5 daily copies, 2 Saturday copiesIndependent4 daily copies, 2 Saturday copiesIndependent on Sunday2 copiesMail on Sunday1 copyObserver2 copiesSun4 daily copies, 1 Saturday copySun on Sunday1 copySunday Express1 copySunday Mirror1 copySunday People1 copySunday Telegraph2 copiesSunday Times2 copiesTimes5 daily copies, 2 Saturday copies Subscription costs incurred by different sections is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Preston

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) jobseeker's allowance in Preston constituency died in 2014; and how many such claimants were on sanctions at the time of their death.

Priti Patel: The information requested on benefit claimants by Parliamentary constituency is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. In respect of the information requested for sanctions I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 11 December 2014 to Question UIN 217571.

Employment: Ethnic Groups

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of progress on increasing equality of access to employment opportunities for people from Black and minority ethnic communities.

Priti Patel: The number of people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities in employment increased by approximately 20% during the last Parliament. The Prime Minister has made a commitment to repeat that achievement in the next Parliament – a further increase of 20% in BME employment – as part of his “2020 vision” for BME communities.

Housing Benefit

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether housing benefit paid to claimants living in supported exempt accommodation will be excluded from calculations of a household's income for the benefit cap under the provisions proposed in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the support component of employment and support allowance is excluded from calculations of a household's income for the purposes of the benefit cap under the provisions proposed in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his policy that existing exemptions for (a) disability living allowance, (b) personal independence payments, (c) discretionary housing payments, (d) working tax credit and (e) other benefits that have been specified in regulations under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 will continue to be disregarded from a household's income under the proposed new framework for the benefit cap.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. A link to the impact assessment on the www.parliament.uk website is included.http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006.pdf

Social Security Benefits

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to section 96A(3)(b) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 which it is proposed will be inserted by Clause 8 of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, how he plans to identify the matters which are relevant to setting the level of the benefit cap.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons he has set the benefit cap at the levels stated in Clause 7(2) of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the draft Welfare Reform and Work Bill, for what reasons the Welfare Reform and Work Bill proposes to repeal section 96(6) to (8) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 on the link between the benefit cap and average earnings.

Justin Tomlinson: The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. A link to the impact assessment on the www.parliament.uk website is included.http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006.pdf

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who gained employment through Jobcentre Plus between 2005 and 2015 were again unemployed after (a) eight months and (b) a year.

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average length of time was taken by jobseekers between their first appointment at a Jobcentre Plus and entry into employment between 2005 and 2015.

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of employment gained through Jobcentre Plus was between 2005 and 2015.

Priti Patel: The exact information requested is not available. Most people leave Jobseeker’s Allowance very quickly; Of those making a new JSA claim around a third leave within a month, two-thirds within three months and over eighty per cent within six months. A destinations survey in 2011 found that 70% of people leaving JSA did so because they had found work and, of those, three quarters were in employment 7-8 months later.

Jobcentre Plus

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets his Department has set for Jobcentre Plus.

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of Jobcentre Plus offices have met his Department's targets in the last six months.

Priti Patel: The Department does not operate a target regime. The effectiveness of all Jobcentres is monitored by a range of measures. The Department regularly publishes information on a number of key areas of performance; these are included in our Transparency Indicators page, Statistical publications, the DWP tabulation tool and the DWP Annual Reports and Accounts. (links below for ease of reference). DWP-business-plan-transparency-measures DWP statistical summaries 2015 - Publications - GOV.UK DWP annual report and accounts 2014 to 2015 - Publications - GOV.UK

Housing Benefit

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.153 of the Summer Budget 2015, if he will publish the criteria to decide who the most vulnerable housing benefit claimants are.

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 1.153 of the Summer Budget 2015, what estimate he has made of the proportion of the £800 million each local authority will receive.

Justin Tomlinson: Local Authorities have overall responsibility for how Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are administered and paid, considering each case on its own merits. The Department publishes a DHP guidance manual and good practice guide to help Local Authorities identify those outline claimants who may require a DHP . No decisions have been made on allocations to local authorities for 2016/2017 and beyond. We consider the allocation of Discretionary Housing Payments each year, based on each local authority’s Housing Benefit expenditure and the local impact of reforms.

Unemployment: Insurance

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has commissioned advice on the potential introduction of a compulsory unemployment insurance scheme.

Priti Patel: No such advice has been commissioned.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Dr Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans next to publish comprehensive statistics on sanctions for jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance claimants.

Priti Patel: The next set of statistics will be published on the GOV.UK website at 9:30am on 12 August 2015.

Housing Benefit: Young People

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if the Government will (a) publish a public consultation and (b) consult with the Social Security Advisory Committee on how vulnerable 18 to 21 year olds will be defined under the proposed changes to housing benefit rules.

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which 18 to 21 year olds will be classified vulnerable groups under the proposed changes to housing benefit; and how people will be asked to demonstrate their vulnerability.

Justin Tomlinson: To prevent young people slipping straight into a life on benefits, from April 2017 the Government will remove the automatic entitlement to housing support for new claims in Universal Credit from 18-21 year olds who are out of work. This will ensure young people in the benefits system face the same choices as young people who work and who may not be able to afford to leave home. We will ensure that vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing needs continue to receive it. Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of that process.

Pension Funds

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value is of UK pension fund (a) equity assets, (b) fixed income assets, (c) real estate assets, (d) private equity assets, (e) private equity assets (f) infrastructure assets, (g) hedge fund assets and (h) cash held in (i) the UK and (ii) overseas.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested is not available in the requested format.

Social Rented Housing: Rents

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the reduction in rent payment rates amongst social sector tenants upon moving to a direct payment scheme.

Justin Tomlinson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 March 2015 to Question UIN 227440.

Employment and Support Allowance: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants in Scotland are in the Work Related Activity Group.

Priti Patel: The information available for the number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants by phase of claim and region is published and can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp. Guidance for users is available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp.

Food Banks: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect of the measures in the Summer Budget 2015 on foodbank use in Scotland.

Priti Patel: The factors driving Food Bank use are many and complex – as the All Party Parliamentary Group report recognised. We know that work is the best route out of poverty, which is why we are introducing a living wage and bringing forward reforms to ensure work always pays.

Child Poverty Act 2010: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on legislation to replace the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Priti Patel: On 9 July the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions wrote to Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights in the Scottish Government, outlining proposed amendments to the Child Poverty Act 2010, as part of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill. We will work closely with the Devolved Administrations as the Bill proceeds and are open to reflecting their preferences regarding their jurisdictions in the legislation.

Housing Benefit: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Scottish households have backdated housing benefit claims in excess of four weeks.

Justin Tomlinson: The information requested about how many Scottish Households have backdated benefit claims in excess of four weeks is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Pensions: Self-employed

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of self-employed people made regular pension contributions in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP’s Family Resources Survey (FRS) collects information on the income and circumstances of private households in the United Kingdom. Findings from this survey (2010/11 to 2013/14) have reported the following proportions of self-employed individuals participating in some form of pension provision for each of the years asked: a) 2010/11 – 21%b) 2011/12 – 20%c) 2012/13 – 18%d) 2013/14 – 17%

Social Security Benefits: Radiotherapy

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy not to require those undergoing radiotherapy to undertake fit-for-work assessments.

Priti Patel: People claiming Employment and Support Allowance whose capacity to work is identified as being significantly limited by cancer treatment, including radiotherapy, are already placed in the Support Group without the need for the whole of the claimant questionnaire to be completed, and without the need for a face-to-face assessment.

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) Copeland receive employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group.

Priti Patel: The information available for the number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants by phase of claim and geography is published and can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp. Guidance for users is available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp.

Social Security Benefits

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2015 to Question 5750, when figures for after August 2014 will be available.

Priti Patel: The figures are already available. The response to Question 5750 included links to statistics for periods beyond August 2014.

Children: Poverty

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of children living in poverty in (a) Copeland and (b) Cumbria.

Priti Patel: The Government does not produce child poverty statistics at local authority or parliamentary constituency level.

Housing Benefit: Young People

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's policy is on 18 to 21 year olds in need of housing support.

Justin Tomlinson: To prevent young people slipping straight into a life on benefits, from April 2017 the Government will remove the automatic entitlement to housing support for new claims in Universal Credit from 18-21 year olds who are out of work. This will ensure young people in the benefits system face the same choices as young people who work and who may not be able to afford to leave home. We will ensure that vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing needs continue to receive it. Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of that process.

Housing Benefit: Young People

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an exemption to his proposed reduction in housing benefit for young people aged 21 and younger who cannot live with their parents and are at risk of homelessness.

Justin Tomlinson: To prevent young people slipping straight into a life on benefits, from April 2017 the Government will remove the automatic entitlement to housing support for new claims in Universal Credit from 18-21 year olds who are out of work. This will ensure young people in the benefits system face the same choices as young people who work and who may not be able to afford to leave home. We will ensure that vulnerable young people who are in need of support for their housing needs continue to receive it. Government will consider the impact in line with our legal obligations as part of that process.

Home Office

Asylum: Deportation

Mr Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were removed from the UK under the Dublin Convention in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2014.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 06 July 2015



In 2010 1,545 people were removed from the UK with reference to the Dublin Regulation, which replaced the Dublin Convention in 2003. This figure includes people who claimed asylum in the UK and those who did not, but had asylum claims in other States, as the Dublin Regulation applies in both cases. In 2014 740 were removed. Comparable figures are not available for 2005. The figures are based on management information and are only valid for the date of the report (11 June 2015). This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.Removals from the UK under the Dublin Regulations have fallen since 2010 primarily because all Member States are unable to make transfers to Greece following the ruling on 21 January 2011 from the European Court of Human Rights in the case of MSS vs Belgium and Greece. The Court found that Greece had violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) that prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment both because of the poor living conditions for applicants and the failure by the Greek authorities to properly consider his asylum claim. This ruling prevents further transfers to Greece until the situation improves.Since the Court ruling the UK has helped Greece significantly to improve its asylum system, both bilaterally and as part of interventions under the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The UK has contributed more working days in asylum expert deployments under EASO support plans to countries such as Greece than any other Member State.

Entry Clearances: English Language

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many companies bid for the Secure English Language Test for applicants abroad; what the value was of that contract; and who was awarded that contract.

James Brokenshire: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 13 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

Three companies bid for the Secure English Language Test for applicants abroad. Four companies bid for the Secure English Language Test for applicants within the UK. The contract was awarded to IELTS Consortium; the Consortium is made up of Cambridge English Language Assessment as Consortium Lead, with British Council and IDP IELTS Australia. The Concession Agreement is cost neutral as it was procured as a concession, rather than a contract, with test-takers paying the test provider directly. The Home Office has not provided funding to the service providers under this arrangement. An estimate of the market value is approximately £60 million per annum worldwide, based on expected volumes of upwards of 400,000 SELT tests at an average cost of £150 per test.

James Brokenshire: Three companies bid for the Secure English Language Test for applicants abroad. Four companies bid for the Secure English Language Test for applicants within the UK. The contract was awarded to IELTS Consortium; the Consortium is made up of Cambridge English Language Assessment as Consortium Lead, with British Council and IDP IELTS Australia. The Concession Agreement is cost neutral as it was procured as a concession, rather than a contract, with test-takers paying the test provider directly. The Home Office has not provided funding to the service providers under this arrangement. An estimate of the market value is approximately £60 million per annum worldwide, based on expected volumes of upwards of 400,000 SELT tests at an average cost of £150 per test.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers received a referral notice that this case was being considered on employment of an undocumented worker in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers were sent a civil penalty notice for the employment of an undocumented worker in each of the last 12 months.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of employers sent a civil penalty notice (a) established a statutory excuse, (b) were fined and (c) received the maximum fine of £20,000 in the last year.

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many employers were fined (a) £20,000 and (b) £15,000 for employing an undocumented worker in each of the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The table gives information on the number of Referral Notices received by the Civil Penalty Compliance Team from July 2014-June 2015 for all workers. Some Referral Notices will include more than one worker and an employer may receive more than one Referral Notice during a 12 month period. The table also shows the number of penalties that were served on employers for employing an illegal worker from July 2014-June 2015. The same employer may have received more than one penalty during this 12 month period. Referral notices received near the end of a calendar month may not be concluded with a Civil Penalty being issued until the following month.The table provides the number of workers for whom employers have received a penalty of either £20,000 or £15,000 in each of the last 12 months. In addition to the table, 1450 employers have received a penalty of less than £15,000 per worker for employing an undocumented worker in the last 12 months. In the case of a first time breach, the £15,000 penalty can be reduced where specified mitigating factors are shown.The table also shows how many employers were served with a No Action Notice (NAN) or Notification of No Liability (NONL) from July 2014 - June 2015. These may be served where an employer has established a statutory excuse against the employment for all the workers encountered.The proportion of Civil Penalty Notices issued in the 12 month period is 73%, the proportion of NANs or NONL issued in the 12 months period is 27%.Please note the figures for penalties levied at the initial decision stage which may be reduced, cancelled, increased or reissued at the objection or appeal stage. 



Civil Penalty Notices Served
(Word Document, 17.05 KB)

Home Office: Press

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which journals, periodicals and newspapers her Department subscribes to; how many copies of each such periodical and newspaper her Department receives each day; and what the cost of subscribing to such newspapers, journals and periodicals was in 2014.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Animals

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) horses and (b) dogs have been (i) injured and (ii) killed while on police duty in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: Their deployment and use of police animals is an operational matter for chief constables. As such, the Home Office does not hold information on injures and deaths of police animals centrally. Any use of animals by the police must meet the welfare requirements of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Jeff Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking (a) to ensure that children who have migrated across the Mediterranean are adequately protected when they arrive in Europe and (b) in relocating highly vulnerable, unaccompanied children to the UK.

James Brokenshire: The protection of unaccompanied children is the responsibility of the country in which they are located, which will often be Italy where they have crossed the Mediterranean.The EU Dublin Regulation includes family unity provisions which may enable an asylum seeker to come to the UK if they have close family members legally residing here. There are also provisions under our family reunification policy to enable this to take place. In other cases we do not believe that relocation of illegal migrants is the answer.It simply moves the problem from one country to another, rather than dealing with it at source and in the case of children would add unnecessary further disruption to already vulnerable cases.Instead, we should continue to focus on practical co-operation to assist those frontline Member States under pressure and to deal with the human traffickers who are exploiting these vulnerable migrants.

Immigrants: English Language

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2015 to Question 3767, what estimate she has made of the likely time it will take enforcement action against the remaining individuals who have been identified as having participated in English language test fraud; and what estimate she has made of the number of removals that will result from such action.

James Brokenshire: We continue to take action against individuals linked to the ETS English Language test fraud. We will not project timeframes for conclusion of that action as this will be dependent on a range of factors including the resolution of associated litigation and appeals.Data on the operational response to the abuse of Secure English Language Testing is published quarterly in the Home Office Transparency data which can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/temporary-and-permanent-migration-data-may-2015.

Home Office: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if she will make it her policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for her Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Karen Bradley: All directly-employed staff of the Home Office are paid above the living wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation. This Government is the first government to introduce a compulsory Living Wage, and as the Budget set out, all employers will be required to comply with the new national Living Wage of £7.20 per hour for those 25 and above.

Deportation: Arrests

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances a person liable to be arrested for deportation is notified in advance that they will be arrested.

James Brokenshire: Any offender liable to deportation who has been bailed or released on restrictions from immigration detention and who fails to comply with the conditions of their release may be liable to arrest under paragraphs 24(1)(a) or 33(1)(a) of Schedule 2 of the Immigration Act 1971.Individuals are advised of the potential for arrest and detention to enforce removal from the UK if they do not voluntarily depart when they have no lawful basis for stay or at any point if they are not compliant with conditions of stay.No advance notification will be given in respect of when an arrest is planned.

Overseas Students: Visas

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of non-EU students who will be affected each year by recently announced restrictions on college visas for entering the UK.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The Immigration Rules changes laid before the House on 13 July do not prevent non-EU students from entering the UK to study at colleges. They prevent new students at publicly funded colleges from working, bringing their work rights into line with those at private colleges, and reduce the length of time that college students can spend studying further education courses. They also affect college students’ ability to extend their Tier 4 visa or switch to another visa route whilst in the UK, unless they are at an embedded college with a formal, direct link to a university.

Stop and Search: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were (a) subject to stop and search and (b) subsequently arrested in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014 in (A) London and (B) each London borough.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people of each recorded ethnic group were (a) subject to stop and search and (b) subsequently arrested in (i) London and (ii) each London borough in (A) 2010, (B) 2011, (C) 2012, (D) 2013 and (E) 2014

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



Table 1 shows the number of stops and searches made by police in the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police combined, for each financial year from 2009/10-2013/14. Table 2 shows the number of these stops and searches that resulted in arrests in each of these years. In both tables data are shown for each different ethnic group, as well as a total across all groups.The Home Office does not hold data centrally for lower levels of geography, such as individual London boroughs.



 1. Stop & searches 2. Resulting in arrests
(Excel SpreadSheet, 10.13 KB)

Stop and Search: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people aged under 16 were (a) subject to stop and search and (b) subsequently arrested in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014 in (A) London and (B) each London borough.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who were (a) under five, (b) five, (c) six, (d) seven, (e) eight, (f) nine, (g) 10, (h) 11, (i) 12, (j) 13, (k) 14, (l) 15 and (m) 16 were subject to stop and search in each year from 2010 to 2014 in (i) London and (ii) each London borough.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the age of people who are stopped and searched, or subsequently arrested.

Police: West Yorkshire

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what change there has been in the number of neighbourhood police officers in West Yorkshire since May 2010.

Mike Penning: The table provided shows the change in the number and proportion of full-time equivalent police officers within the neighbourhoods function in West Yorkshire, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2015.As HMIC has made clear, there is no simple link between officer numbers and crime levels, between numbers and the visibility of police in the community, or between numbers and the quality of service provided.



Full Time Equivalent Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 10.84 KB)

Asylum: Deportation

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on deporting failed asylum applicants in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not store data on the amount spent annually on returning failed asylum applications so this information cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Wills: Fraud

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what jurisdiction the police have to investigate allegations of fraud relating to the falsification of documents and declarations of a spouse's estate and other matters relating to wills.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



There are a number of offences under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 that would relate to the falsification of a document such as a will, or other testamentary documents. There are also offences under the Fraud Act 2006 that may be applicable depending on what action is taken subsequent to such falsification. Police have powers conferred on them to investigate these offences under legislation such as the Police Act 1997 and Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Illegal Immigrants: France

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the Schengen Agreement on the level of illegal migration from Calais into the UK.

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations her Department has made to member countries of the Schengen Agreement area on the effect of that agreement on the number of irregular migrants to Calais and its environs.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The United Kingdom, whilst being an EU Member State, does not participate in the immigration and border aspects of the Schengen acquis and continues to operate border controls with other EU Member States. Schengen visas are not valid for entry to the UK.The UK has been a leading voice in recent cross-European efforts to understand and tackle the large flows of illegal migrants across the Mediterranean. That includes participation in European Council and other meetings, as well as bilaterally with key Member States.

Illegal Immigrants: Housing

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants who have arrived in the UK in the last 12 months are housed at public expense.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office only provides housing support to asylum seekers whilst their claim is under consideration and to those failed asylum seekers who meet the specific criteria of Sections 4 and 95 of the Immigration Act.

Immigration Rules: Overseas Students

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what data her Department considered to inform the changes to tier 4 immigration rules for students at further education colleges, announced on 13 July 2015.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The Home Office considered a range of data, including Home Office Immigration Statistics internal Home Office intelligence and compliance data and Labour Force Survey data.Home Office Immigration Statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics

Metropolitan Police

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of racism were (a) made and (b) upheld against Metropolitan Police officers in each year since 2010.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints of racism upheld against Metropolitan Police officers resulted in (a) no action taken, (b) suspension, (c) other disciplinary measures and (d) dismissal in each year since 2010.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 21 July 2015



This information is not held centrally by the Home Office.The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) publishes quarterly data on police complaints for each force, which includes a breakdown of the nature of allegations recorded. The category of ‘Discriminatory Behaviour’ includes incidents of racism.The IPCC also holds a more detailed breakdown of the category information, but does not hold information of the disciplinary outcomes subsequent to the complaints. This information may be held by the force itself.I have asked the IPCC to write to the Honourable Member with the information it has available and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the House Library.

Visas

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications for visitor visas from each country were accepted in the last year for which records are available.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is given in the table below.The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas, are published quarterly in the ‘Immigration Statistics, January-March 2015’, available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics



HO Immigration Statistics
(Excel SpreadSheet, 20.33 KB)

Immigration Controls

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what circumstances a non-British parent of a young child based in the UK, who is not allowed to stay in the country for periods longer than six months, stops being considered as a primary care giver for immigration purposes as a result of siblings filling that role.

James Brokenshire: The requirements to be met by a non-European Economic Area national for entry clearance to or leave to remain in the UK as a parent of a child based here are set out in paragraphs EC-PT.1.1. and R-LTRPT.1.1. of Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules. Further guidance on these requirements can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chapter-8-appendix-fm-family-members

Grzegorz Kowalski

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to speed up the repatriation of Grzegorz Kowalski; and when Mr Kowalski will be repatriated.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office does not comment on individual cases.

Illegal Immigrants

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of wider use of identity documentation to assist in the detection of illegal immigrants living in the UK.

James Brokenshire: By August 2015, all non-EEA nationals coming and staying in the UK for more than six months will need to apply for a secure biometric residence permit (BRP).We have issued over 2 million cards since starting the roll out of BRPs in 2008. We will also issue biometric residence cards to non-EEA nationals who have applied for evidence of an entitlement to reside in the UK, under EU law, from 6 April 2015.We are working across Government to examine how biometric documents could be used to simplify and strengthen the checks performed by employers and service providers to establish a migrant’s right to work and their eligibility to services.

Passports: British Nationals Abroad

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2015 to Question 5846, what (a) proportion and (b) number of applications for a passport for a child overseas take longer than eight months to process.

James Brokenshire: A total of 49,173 international child passport applications finished processing in January-June 2015. Of this total, 1,068 (2.2%) took longer than eight months to be processed.The processing time is the length of time from receipt of the application to the passport being printed.Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) must be fully satisfied that all appropriate checks have been completed successfully prior to the issuance of passport facilities. This is particularly important in relation to child applications as part of Her Majesty’s Passport Office responsibility to protect potentially vulnerable children, including those potentially at risk of child trafficking and to maintain the integrity of the British Passport.These checks can require the provision of information from other agencies overseas – particularly in complex applications such as surrogacy cases.Delays in the provision of this information to HMPO can lead to significantly extended timeframes in processing applications.

HM Passport Office: Complaints

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2015 to Question 5849, how many complaints she has received on slow service at HM Passport Office in each of the last two years.

James Brokenshire: Her Majesty’s Passport Office has dealt with a range of customer enquiries over the last two years. These enquiries have come from members of the public and from Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents.Her Majesty’s Passport Office is committed to processing applications as quickly as possible while maintaining the high level of security within the application system. Those applicants who need to travel urgently have their cases considered as a priority.

Department of Health

General Practitioners: Training

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had on increasing training for GPs by one year to include a compulsory rotation in mental health.

Ben Gummer: The Department’s Ministers have met Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) on numerous occasions to discuss a variety of issues, including GP training.   Working with the RCGP, Health Education England (HEE) will continue to support the inclusion of compulsory work-based training in mental health (including dementia) in GP training. HEE will also continue to work with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to further enhance bespoke training courses to allow GPs to develop a specialist interest in the care of patients with mental health conditions.

Knee Replacements

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received about development of a commissioning policy for microprocessor knees by NHS England.

George Freeman: Since 1 July 2015, no Department of Health Minister or the Chief Medical Officer has received representations about development of a commissioning policy for microprocessor knees by NHS England.   In November 2014 Baroness Jolly, the then Government Health Whip, was approached by PB Political Consulting about microprocessor knees, but no meeting was convened.

Department of Health: Trade Unions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with health staff trades unions in the last 12 months.

Jane Ellison: The Department’s Ministers and officials meet routinely with health staff trade unions in the national Social Partnership Forum (SPF), which is now chaired by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Ben Gummer). The main SPF met four times between July 2014 and July 2015.   Officials also meet formally at least twice yearly with health trade unions in the NHS Staff Council and at least quarterly in the NHS Staff Council Executive, where NHS Agenda for Change pay negotiations take place. Officials were also observers at negotiations between NHS Employers and the British Medical Association (which ended in October 2014) on changes to the consultant contract and the contract for doctors and dentists in training.   Additionally, Ministers and officials met with health trade unions, including Unison, British Medical Association, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Midwives, Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association and the TUC, across a range of policy issues in the past 12 months.   Although data is not routinely collated for official purposes on meetings specifically with Trade Unions, details of all Health Ministers’ external meetings have historically been published retrospectively on GOV.UK.   Details of all Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the GOV.UK website:   https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings

Department of Health: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Jane Ellison: The Department’s London and National pay-scales exceed the London Living Wage and the UK Living Wage, respectively. The Department reviews this position on an annual basis in line with the Living Wage levels set by the Living Wage Foundation every November.

Medical Treatments: Technology

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the criteria and processes are for a technology to be considered for NHS England's evaluation through commissioning programme.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it has a Standard Operating Procedure in place to support the development, consideration and implementation of individual schemes within its overall Commissioning through Evaluation programme. Potential schemes may come from a number of sources. All will need to demonstrate that they can generate valuable new data on a specialised treatment that is not routinely commissioned on the basis of currently available evidence on clinical and cost effectiveness, but nonetheless shows significant promise as a future treatment.

Medical Treatments

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how NHS England's evaluation through commissioning programme will align with the Accelerated Access Review and the test bed programme outlined in the NHS five year forward review.

George Freeman: NHS England has stated that the Commissioning through Evaluation programme is aligned to both the ambitions of the Accelerated Access Review and NHS England’s ‘test bed’ innovation proposals in that it aims to provide faster access to new and systematically generated evaluative data to inform decisions on clinical commissioning policy, particularly in areas where properly constructed research is either unlikely or impossible.   NHS England’s operating model, in which single national clinical commissioning policies and service specifications are developed and published following significant clinical and patient engagement, provides a unique opportunity to identify and quickly and consistently disseminate innovative changes in clinical practice for specialised services to the benefit of patients across England.

Medical Treatments: Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding NHS England's evaluation through commissioning programme has received; and how much is allocated for future programmes.

George Freeman: NHS England has an identified budget of £24 million for its Commissioning through Evaluation programme in 2015/16. This will cover the six existing schemes that are already live, independent evaluation of the schemes via the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and the provision of approximately £7 million funding to enable the consideration of one or more new schemes in 2015/16.

Prosthetics

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask NHS England to reconsider a commissioning policy on (a) microprocessor knees, (b) muti-articulating prosthetic hands and (c) custom made silicon covers.

George Freeman: NHS England has informed us that it has established a Prosthetics subgroup which reports to the Complex Disability Equipment Clinical Reference Group. This sub-group consists of patients, their representatives, clinicians and representatives from the professional bodies and the prosthetics industry. This sub-group has focussed on various aspects relating to the service model which are reflected in the revised Prosthetics Service specification published on the NHS England website earlier this year.   The subgroup have also developed draft clinical commissioning policies for microprocessor prosthetic knees and multi grip upper arm prostheses but recognise the need to undertake more work on strengthening the clinical evidence and the links with potential to benefit. The further work required to strengthen the evidence for the draft policies should be complete by the autumn of this year.   These draft policies can be found at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-d/d01/

Hospitals: Admissions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress NHS strategic clinical networks have made against the indicator in the Clinical Commissioning Group Outcomes Indicator Set on reducing the number of emergency admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis and lower limb amputations; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Outcomes Indicator Set is intended to provide clear comparative information to commissioners about the quality of health services commissioned by CCGs and the associated health outcomes. The information requested is therefore not available.

Hospitals: Admissions

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of unplanned emergency admissions to hospital attributed to (a) blocked catheters, (b) heart failure and (c) diabetic ketoacidosis in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The information is provided in the attached table. 



Emergency admissions 2011-14
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.92 KB)

Oesophageal Cancer: Health Education

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of the symptoms of oesophageal cancer among (a) GPs and (b) the wider public.

Jane Ellison: The Be Clear on Cancer (BCOC) national oesophago-gastric campaign to raise awareness of the main symptoms of these cancers ran from 26 January to 22 February 2015. The campaign used a wide range of media, including national television and radio advertising, to promote the key messages “Having heartburn, most days, for three weeks or more could be a sign of cancer” and “Food sticking when you swallow could be a sign of cancer”.   The campaign was targeted to people over 50, the age group most at risk of developing oesophago-gastric cancers, and their friends and family to raise awareness of the symptoms of persistent heartburn and food sticking and to encourage people with either of these symptoms to visit their general practitioner (GP).   The decision on whether the BCOC oesophago-gastric campaign will be repeated in the future will be informed by a steering group, whose members include primary and secondary care clinicians, analysts and key voluntary sector organisations. A number of factors are taken into account when deciding which campaigns to run, including all available evaluation data.   The new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline published last month on referral for suspected cancer encourages GPs to think of cancer sooner and to lower the threshold at which people are given cancer tests.

Medical Treatments

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of NHS England's evaluation through commissioning programme to date; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman: No formal assessment of the effectiveness of NHS England’s Commissioning through Evaluation programme has been made to date.

Sunscreen: VAT

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the potential effect of a reduction in VAT on sunscreen on public health.

Jane Ellison: We have made no assessment of the potential effect of reduction in VAT on sunscreen on public health.

Diabetes: Health Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support people diagnosed with diabetes to manage their own care.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard for diabetes sets out that people with diabetes should receive a structured educational programme as this is key to ensuring that they are able to manage their condition as successfully as possible.   The proportion of people with diabetes being offered structured education is rising. 16% of people newly diagnosed with diabetes were offered structured education in 2012/13 compared to just over 8% of those diagnosed in 2009. In the same period the number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes offered or attending structured education rose from 11% to over 18%.   Improving the outcomes of people with and at risk of diabetes is of great concern to this Government and we will put forward our plans in due course.

Cancer: Health Education

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the results of the Be Clear on Cancer pilot scheme in 2014; and if this scheme will be repeated nationally in the future.

Jane Ellison: For each Be Clear on Cancer (BCOC) campaign there is a comprehensive evaluation process. Data is collected on a number of metrics to reflect the possible campaign impact on the National Health Service and key elements of the patient pathway.   Public Health England (PHE) will publish full and final evaluation reports for each of the campaigns as soon as possible, when analysis of all metrics is complete.   In advance of a final evaluation report, PHE aims to publish interim reports containing the public awareness and knowledge levels and the results from the analysis of cancer waiting times data.   The intention is for the BCOC campaign to continue, subject to funding and resources.

Health: Climate Change

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications for his Department's policies are of the recommendations of the Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change, published on 23 June 2015.

Jane Ellison: The Department has set up a Sustainable Development and Climate Change Steering Group (SDCCSG), to strengthen governance of sustainable development activities across the Department, including oversight of our arm’s length bodies. The SDCCSG is a forum to develop and advise on sustainable development activities and ensure that these are integrated across the Department’s policies and practices.   The Department has already taken a number of steps to make the health and care system more resilient to the threat of climate change. These include issuing guidance on energy use and climate resilience for the NHS estate, the regular publication of Heatwave and Cold Weather Plans and the provision of health input into the Government’s flooding guidance, in conjunction with Public Health England and NHS England.

Diabetes: Health Services

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to ensure that commissioners and hospital trusts work together to reduce hospital admissions associated with diabetes.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has recently piloted a sample service specification for clinical commissioning groups on the management of type 1 and type 2 diabetes based on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard for diabetes. This offers a model for commissioning high quality, integrated care for those with diabetes. It highlights the specific care needs for those with type 1 diabetes where they differ from those with type 2 diabetes.   Furthermore, it has published handbooks to support risk stratification, care planning and multidisciplinary team working which can be found at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/pers-care-guid-core-guid.pdf   This is complemented with an incentive to support avoiding unplanned admissions which can be found at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/03/avoid-unplanned-admissions-03-15.pdf

Skin Cancer: Nurses

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on providing additional funding for skin cancer specialist nurses.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has published a service specification for adult skin cancer services which sets out what the National Health Service must have in place to offer high quality skin cancer treatment, care and support. Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are an integral part of the support for patients diagnosed and treated for cancer. We know from the Cancer Patient Experience Survey that patients with a CNS report a better experience.   CNSs feature in all the cancer peer review measures on which multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) in hospitals are assessed, including skin cancer MDTs. The expectation is that providers have CNSs in place for each tumour area.

Exercise: Children

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of children who are partaking in 60 minutes of daily exercise.

Jane Ellison: This is a devolved matter.   On 2 July, Public Heath England launched the “Change4Life” 10 Minute Shake Up campaign with Disney. This aims to inspire the nation's children to get moving and help them achieve the recommended 60 minutes of exercise per day.   The Department also funds the PE and Sport Premium for Primary Schools and School Games with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education to encourage more children and young people to become active.

General Practitioners: Woking

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices in Woking constituency have received funding from the GP Access Fund.

Mr Jonathan Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP appointments were available in Woking constituency in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: There are currently no general practitioner (GP) practices in Woking receiving funding from the Prime Minister’s GP Access Fund (known formerly as the PM Challenge Fund).   Information on the availability of GP appointments in Woking is not collected centrally. GP practices are responsible for managing their appointments in accordance with the needs of their patients.   The Government is committed to improving access to GP and primary care services. We have invested in the Prime Minister’s GP Access Fund to test improved and innovative access to GP services. This includes longer opening hours – such as evening and weekend hours – but also different ways of accessing services, for example telephone and Skype consultations. Across two waves of the Fund, there are 57 schemes covering over 2,500 practices and 18 million patients.

Doctors: Training

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2015 to Question 4761, if he will require all newly-qualified doctors whose training has been paid for from the public purse either to practise for a specified minimum period in the UK or, if practising overseas, to repay all or part of the cost of their training; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: As part of the forthcoming Spending Review the Department will look at all of its expenditure including how we may further increase retention in the medical/NHS workforce. In doing so we will look to learn from other sectors, where retention schemes have been developed to ensure a return on tax-payer investment.

Health Professions: Regulation

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to bring forward the Law Commission Bill on regulation of health and social care professions for parliamentary consideration; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer: The Government is grateful for the work of the Law Commissions of England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in reviewing the system of health and (in England) social care professional regulation. The four United Kingdom country response was published on 29 January 2015 which accepted wholly or in part the vast majority of the Law Commissions’ recommendations. Progress has already been made to implement some of the Law Commissions’ recommendations through the Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015. Amendments have also been made via secondary legislation to the Medical Act 1983 and the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 to reform parts of the General Medical Council’s and the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s fitness to practise procedures. The Government is considering how the Law Commissions’ work can best be taken forward.

Living Wage

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has commissioned on the effect on local authority budgets of paying the new National Living Wage to external staff commissioned by local authorities to provide adult social care.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of paying the National Living Wage for adult social care commissioned by local authorities over the next five years.

Alistair Burt: The impact of the new National Living Wage on local authority finances will be considered during the Spending Review as part of an overall assessment of spending pressures on local authorities.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Working Hours

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2015 to Question 6279, on accident and emergency departments: working hours, where the information is held and how it can be accessed.

Jane Ellison: This information is not held centrally. It is for individual hospital trusts to determine the working hours for staff in emergency departments, to ensure care is provided efficiently and safely.

Loneliness: Older People

Seema Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of older people experiencing loneliness.

Alistair Burt: My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health set out in his speech to the Local Government Association on 1 July that we all have a responsibility at an individual, family, and community level to identify people with care needs such as loneliness and provide support and improve their wellbeing.   Through the Care Act 2014 the Department has required local authorities to have measures in place to identify people in their area who would benefit from universal services to help reduce, delay or prevent needs for care and support. This includes needs that may arise from social isolation.   The Department has supported a ‘digital toolkit’ for local commissioners, which was developed by the Campaign to End Loneliness. Since its launch in July 2012, the toolkit has been supporting commissioners in understanding, mapping and commissioning for loneliness and social isolation in their communities.   Alongside work to build our understanding of the issue and expanding the evidence base, we have launched the Prevention Library where local authorities can exchange ideas and experience of the impact of information, advice and befriending services.

Breast Cancer: Diagnosis

Seema Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve rates of early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Jane Ellison: To improve early diagnosis of cancer, the Department of Health and Public Health England (PHE, since 2013) have run numerous national Be Clear on Cancer public awareness campaigns, including two national campaigns on breast cancer in women over 70. PHE ran the first campaign early in 2014 and the second campaign is running from 13 July to 6 September 2015 to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms, including non-lump symptoms and encourage women with symptoms to see their general practitioner (GP) without delay. The campaign is targeting women over 70 with the key message of “1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it.” The campaign will run on television, radio, digital and out of home media. As with all Be Clear on Cancer campaigns, the impact of this campaign will be evaluated.   The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published an updated guideline “Suspected cancer: recognition and referral” on 23 June 2015, to ensure that it reflects latest evidence and can continue to support GPs to identify patients with symptoms of suspected cancer, including breast cancer and urgently refer them as appropriate.   Cancer screening remains an important way to detect cancer early, and women aged 50 to 70 are invited for free breast screening every three years. Women over 70 can request free three yearly screening. We have invested in a research trial to investigate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the programme to women aged 47-49 and 71-73 and over two million women have now been randomised. Results from the trial will be available in the early 2020s.

Hospital Beds: Dorset

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of (a) closing 450 beds at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and replacing them with 450 new beds at Poole General Hospital and (b) closing 450 beds at Poole General Hospital and replacing them with 450 beds at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Ben Gummer: The reconfiguration of local health services is a matter for the National Health Service. All service changes should be led by clinicians and be in the best interests of patients, not driven from the top down.   Any proposed significant changes to services are subject to the four tests for service reconfiguration. These tests set out that proposals should demonstrate: support from clinical commissioners; strengthened public and patient engagement; clarity on the clinical evidence base; and support for patient choice.   We understand Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is leading the Dorset Clinical Services Review. The CCG confirms the case for change set outs to ensure that in Dorset there is access to care for all, which is both high quality and affordable for the future. The CCG will formally consult the public on its proposals in 2016.   We are advised that any change in bed numbers will be a part of an overall reconfiguration of services and includes remodelling of a number of services to improve patient flows. Detailed work is currently underway to consider the estate implications of the proposed options and we would expect the planned overall costs to the local NHS to be published as part of the consultation process.

Multiple Sclerosis: Drugs

Mr Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were treated using the drug Fampyra in (a) the UK, (b) each English region, (c) each parliamentary constituency and (d) each Clinical Commissioning Group.

George Freeman: Information on the number of patients treated using a particular medicine is not collected. The Health and Social Care Information Centre has advised that five prescription items for fampridine (Fampyra) were prescribed in England and dispensed in the community in 2014.   Information at United Kingdom, English region and parliamentary constituency level or for secondary care is not available. A breakdown by clinical commissioning group cannot be provided due to the risk that individual patients might be identified.

Fibromyalgia

Dr Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to provide funding for projects and research on aetiology and the treatment of Fibromyalgia.

George Freeman: The Department's National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including fibromyalgia. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Combined Authorities: Health Services

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether devolution of health commissioning to combined authorities will have any effect on the Government's plan for real terms increases in NHS spending in each year of the current Parliament.

Alistair Burt: The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to increase health funding each year in this Parliament, in spite of the continuing fiscal challenges. By 2020-21, funding will rise in real terms by at least £8 billion – the amount required to implement the National Health Service’s own plan.   Budgets for 2016-17 will be determined following the forthcoming Spending Review. The Department and NHS England are working closely with Greater Manchester to develop the devolved arrangements that will be implemented for the combined authority from April 2016.

Antibiotics

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps (a) his Department, (b) Public Health England and (c) NHS England are taking to ensure that local antibiotic stewardship policies and prescribing practices are driven by the perceived value of antibiotics.

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps (a) his Department, (b) Public Health England and (c) NHS England are taking to improve antibiotic stewardship and promote the optimal prescribing of antibiotics in the secondary and primary care settings.

Jane Ellison: The Department, Public Health England, NHS England and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is addressing antibiotic stewardship through the cross Government UK 5 Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy, published in 2013.   One of the seven key areas for action is antibiotic stewardship and optimised prescribing. The Government’s annual report and implementation plan for the strategy, which was published in December 2014, sets out the key actions being undertaken to optimise the prescribing of antibiotics. This includes the use of antimicrobial prescribing quality measures aimed at reducing total antibiotic prescribing and encouraging the use of narrow spectrum antibiotics in both primary and secondary care. The annual report and implementation plan is available at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/385733/UK_AMR_annual_report.pdf

Antibiotics: Costs

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the unbundling of new and emerging antibiotics from the national tariff to address the perceived cost barrier impeding optimal prescribing.

Jane Ellison: Requests for drugs to be reimbursed outside of national tariff prices are considered by a High Cost Drugs Steering Group, chaired by NHS England. Requests are judged against criteria, including whether the drug and its expected associated costs of care are disproportionately high compared to the other expected costs of care within the relevant Healthcare Resource Group, which would affect fair reimbursement.

NHS: Finance

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the allocation of commissioning resources for 2015-16, for what reason the allocation for (a) NHS Oldham is 49 per cent below target, (b) Greater Manchester is two per cent below target, (c) NHS Isle of Wight is 18.02 per cent above target, (d) NHS West London is 31.52 per cent above target and (e) NHS Westminster is 26.24 per cent above target; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Decisions on clinical commissioning group (CCG) allocations are taken independently by NHS England, which agreed its approach to allocations for 2015-16 at its board meeting on 17 December 2014. The details of NHS England’s proposals may be found at:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/2014/12/12/board-meet-17-dec14/.   Every CCG in England continues to benefit from stable above-inflation increases in funding for 2015-16. NHS England’s policy has been to maximise funding growth for those CCGs furthest below target, with the aim that no CCG should be more than 5% below target allocation from the beginning of 2017-18.   For comparison, NHS Oldham CCG (which is currently 0.49% below target) received an increase in funding of 2.79% for 2015-16, whilst Greater Manchester CCGs, as a whole, received a 4.14% increase in funding. NHS Isle of Wight CCG, NHS West London CCG and NHS Westminster CCG all received 1.94% increases in funding which is the minimum level of funding increase agreed by NHS England for 2015-16. The number of CCGs more than 5% below target has been halved from 34 to 17 in 2015-16.

Health Professions: Foreign Nationals

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of health and care professionals registered with the (a) General Chiropractic Council, (b) General Dental Council, (c) General Medical Council, (d) General Optical Council, (e) General Osteopathic Council, (f) General Pharmaceutical Council, (g) Health and Care Professions Council, (h) Nursing and Midwifery Council and (i) Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is from overseas.

Ben Gummer: The information requested about the proportion of health and care professionals from overseas that are registered with the nine health and care professional regulatory bodies (RBs) in the United Kingdom is not collected or held centrally.   Information provided by the nine RBs on new registrations per annum, in each of the last five years for which data is available, is shown in the attached table. Data is provided on the total number of new registrations for each year and this figure is broken down by whether the applicant trained in the UK or overseas. 



Nine regulatory bodies- New registrations 2009-15
(Excel SpreadSheet, 15.03 KB)

Leukaemia: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia in England have access to (a) Ponatinib and (b) other innovative new medicines.

George Freeman: A number of drugs for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and are routinely available in England.   A number of other drugs, including ponatinib, are available through the Cancer Drugs Fund.   We take the issue of ensuring rapid access to innovative therapies very seriously, which is why we have launched an Accelerated Access Review to make recommendations to Government later in the year on speeding up access for National Health Service patients to innovative and cost effective new medicines, diagnostics and medical technologies.

Cancer: Drugs

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of potential delays for patients in access to medicines as a result of changes to the National Cancer Drugs Fund in March 2016.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the future of the National Cancer Drugs Fund beyond March 2016.

George Freeman: We have made no such assessment nor have there been any discussions between the Department and the Royal Colleges. The Government is committed to continuing to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the cost of medical indemnity cover required by GP practices to operate outside regular out of hours services on the availability of out of hours provision.

Alistair Burt: NHS England is currently in discussions with the profession, medical indemnity providers and other stakeholders to establish the extent of the issues affecting the cost of medical indemnity insurance.

General Practitioners: Working Hours

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will pay the costs of medical indemnity cover required by GP practices when providing an out of regular hours service.

Alistair Burt: As independent contractors, general practitioners (GPs) are responsible for meeting the costs of their own medical indemnity cover.   Earlier this year NHS England introduced a short-term pilot scheme which reimbursed the additional indemnity costs resulting from undertaking additional sessions in Out of Hours care settings.   GPs are not eligible to join the NHS Litigation Authority’s Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts, unless they are employed directly by a National Health Service trust. GPs are self-employed and independent practitioners.   GPs are of course able to purchase cover from one of the medical defence unions.

Smoking: Death

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to reduce smoking-related deaths in areas where there is higher than average incidence of such deaths.

Jane Ellison: The Tobacco Control Plan for England sets out a comprehensive strategy including national and local action. Local authorities, funded by the Government’s public health grant, have responsibility for providing a programme of tobacco control that meets the needs of their populations. Public Health England provides local authorities with a range of data and tools including the Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England and a local youth smoking mapping tool, to assist local priority setting and support delivery.

Medical Records: Risk Management

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy of the red risk rating of the care.data programme by the Major Projects Authority.

George Freeman: The ‘red rating’ relates to a review of the programme carried out by the Major Projects Authority in May 2014. A subsequent review undertaken in February of this year reported the care.data programme as Amber/Red reflecting the progress made.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Business, Innovation and Sport: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Nick Boles: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on 10 July, UIN 2952.

Bankruptcy

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the availability of finance for entrepreneurs who are discharged bankrupts.

Anna Soubry: Entrepreneurs who are discharged bankrupts can encounter difficulties in accessing finance because their credit history is affected for several years after a bankruptcy.There are no targeted support schemes for entrepreneurs who are discharged bankrupts. However, they are still able to apply for finance from commercial sources and steps have been taken to improve the ability of all entrepreneurs to find the finance they need to start and expand a business. There is, for example the 'Finance Finder' tool on the gov.uk website. This is a searchable database of publicly-backed sources of finance. The tool helps to explore the full range of options available, from Government grants through to investment types of finance available from Business Angels and Venture Capitalists. In addition, the British Business Bank has recently published “The Business Finance Guide: A journey from Start-Up to Growth”. This is a unique guide that outlines sources of finance available to businesses. It is available on the British Business Bank website. Details of a wide range of private sector lenders, searchable by location and firm type can also be found at the Better Business Finance website.

Bankruptcy

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will assess the effect of discharged bankruptcy on the ability of entrepreneurs to set up new businesses.

Anna Soubry: Current bankruptcy provisions in the UK give a fresh start to a debtor after 12 months when he or she is discharged from the bankruptcy. In 2014, the EU Commission published its recommendation calling for a maximum 3 year discharge period across Europe in order to encourage entrepreneurship. I am pleased to note that we are already well within that recommendation. There are no plans to assess these provisions at present. Once bankruptcy is discharged, there is no formal bar to an individual setting up a new business.

Trade Unions: Reform

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent meetings he has had with the Trades Union Congress on trade union reform.

Nick Boles: Brief details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are all publically available on the Gov.UK website.

Electronic Equipment: Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of the Plugs and Sockets Regulations 1994 in regulating online trading of electrical products.

Anna Soubry: I have not carried out any specific assessment of the efficacy of the Plugs and Sockets Regulations 1994 in regulating online trading of electrical products. However, feedback from both Trading Standards (who enforce the legislation) and UK industry indicates that the Regulations, applied in conjunction with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, continue to act as a practical and robust means of keeping both unsafe products, and products which do not have a safe means of connection to standard UK power sockets, off the UK market, regardless of whether these products are sold online.

Electronic Equipment: Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to prevent counterfeit electrical goods from being sold in the UK to protect consumers from electrical accidents; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: In February this year the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pledged an extra £400,000 to help trading standards officers prevent dangerous goods being sold in the UK, and this includes £182,000 for its ports and borders project which is improving surveillance at Southampton and Felixstowe ports. The UK is also part of the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products; called RAPEX. This facilitates the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the Commission on measures to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers.

Electronic Equipment: Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on restricting the sale of second-hand electrical goods; and what assessment he has made of the effect of such policies on the number of electrical accidents.

Anna Soubry: My Department does not have a policy on restricting the sale of second-hand electrical goods. There are two pieces of legislation relevant to second hand electrical goods; the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, and the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. They require that equipment must only be supplied which is safe. On 5th March we laid before Parliament a Report on the Application of The Consumer Protection Act 1987 for the period 1 April 2008 – 31 March 2013 which includes some statistics on enforcement action taken by Local Authority Trading Standards Services for electrical products in 2011-2012. However, these are not broken down to show accidents involving second-hand products.

Electronic Equipment: Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the number of counterfeit electrical goods that are sold in the UK.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government has not made an assessment of the number of counterfeit electrical products product being sold in the UK. However, the IP Crime Group which is comprised of representatives from private sector, law enforcement agencies and government departments publishes an annual report into IP crime in the UK. The Crime Report contains a survey of Trading Standards departments and they report that in 2013/14 electrical items were the sixth most investigated product. IP Crime Report - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-ip-crime-report-2013-to-2014

Electronic Equipment: Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 in reducing the number of non-compliant electrical products being sold in the UK.

Anna Soubry: I have not carried out any specific assessment of the effectiveness of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, though feedback from Trading Standards and industry has indicated that the Regulations continue to work well in ensuring only safe products are placed on the market. The relevant European Union legislation has recently been revised to clarify and improve the obligations for those in the supply chain, but with no change to the scope or technical safety objectives. The corresponding revision to the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations will come into force on 20 April 2016 following a public consultation.

Students: Grants

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students at each university receive maintenance grants.

Joseph Johnson: Statistics showing the number of English domiciled applicants awarded Maintenance Grants for study at UK providers are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’.http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx The number of Maintenance Grants awarded to English domiciled applicants at each publicly-funded Higher Education Institution (HEI) in the academic year 2013/14 has been provided in the attached table. In addition to the 488,700 applicants awarded Maintenance Grants at publicly funded HEIs, there was also 37,500 awarded applicants at Further Education Colleges and 40,800 at Alternative Providers of Higher Education in the academic year 2013/14.



Maintanance grants table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 64.5 KB)

New Businesses

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants there have been in each (i) UK region and (ii) local authority area to the Government's Start Up Loan Scheme since its establishment.

Anna Soubry: Start Up Loans and business support are provided directly by a network of delivery partners. Not all information regarding expressions of interest or applications is passed through centrally to the Start Up Loans Company. Therefore we cannot provide an accurate picture of the total number of applicants. However, in total more than 30,000 Start Up Loans have been issued to budding entrepreneurs across the country since the scheme launched in June 2012. A breakdown by region and local authority area is attached.



Start Up Loans by region and local authority
(PDF Document, 227.18 KB)

Living Wage

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from Citizens UK on the living wage.

Nick Boles: We have not received any representations from Citizens UK on the National Living Wage. However the Living Wage Foundation, which is an initiative of Citizens UK, has reacted positively to the announcement of a National Living Wage. The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the level of the National Living Wage going forward in order to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020. In making its recommendations on the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission takes into account a wide range of evidence from across the economy. This process will continue for the National Living Wage too. Citizens UK will have the opportunity to provide representations during the Low Pay Commission’s public consultation, ahead of any further changes to the rates.

Apprentices: Pay

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average change in wages is for a former apprentice three years after completion of their apprenticeship.

Nick Boles: The average increase in wages for a former apprentice three to five years after completion of an advanced (level 3) apprenticeship is 16%, when compared to the average wage of a learner who starts but does not achieve an apprenticeship of the same level. The equivalent increase for a former apprentice three to five years after completion of an intermediate (level 2) apprenticeship is 11%. These increases can be compared to wage returns for further education qualifications in general of 9% and 11% for Level 3 and Level 2 qualifications respectively. These findings are reported in BIS Research Paper Number 195, accessible at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/383646/Estimation_of_the_labour_market_returns_to_qualifications_gained_in_English_Further_Education_-_Final_-_November_2014.pdf

Living Wage

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the (a) Low Pay Commission and (b) Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University on the National Living Wage.

Nick Boles: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not held a meeting with either the Low Pay Commission or the Centre for Research in Social Policy to discuss the National Living Wage.However, the Low Pay Commission has been asked to provide a report to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills regarding the level of the National Living Wage in the future. This report should provide an assessment of the pace of increase to reach the Government’s ambition of 60% of median earnings by 2020. In making its recommendations on the National Minimum Wage, the Low Pay Commission takes into account a wide range of evidence from across the economy. This process will continue for the National Living Wage too.As leaders of the Minimum Income Standard programme, which forms the basis for setting the Living Wage, the Centre for Research in Social Policy are welcome and encouraged to provide evidence during the Low Pay Commission’s public consultation regarding future rates.

Postgraduate Education

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to improve access to postgraduate education.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consulted on Support for Postgraduate Study in spring 2015, proposing a loan system to overcome financial barriers to accessing postgraduate taught Master’s, and to review support for postgraduate research. The consultation response is currently being analysed and the Department will respond in the autumn.

Drugs: Developing Countries

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department supports the request by the Least-Developed Countries (LDC) group at the World Trade Organisation for an extension of the transition period to utilise trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights' flexibilities relating to pharmaceutical products for as long as those countries remain an LDC.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The UK Government supports an extension of the transition period for least developed countries (LDCs) to comply with certain obligations regarding pharmaceutical products under the World Trade Organisation’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. Extending the transitional arrangements for a time-bound period will allow LDCs time to ensure their intellectual property laws and practices conform with the TRIPS Agreement. Stimulating innovation and growth in LDCs is key, and we are working to encourage all countries to establish high quality intellectual property protection and enforcement frameworks to facilitate economic growth and participation in world trade.

National Vocational Qualifications

Roger Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to evaluate the accuracy of NVQ assessments.

Nick Boles: National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are regulated qualifications. Skills policy is a devolved matter. In England, Ofqual recognises awarding organisations which offer regulated qualifications (including NVQs). Ofqual requires recognised awarding organisations to comply with its General Conditions of Recognition. These Conditions require that qualifications must be fit for purpose and accurately and reliably assessed. Ofqual reviews the extent to which awarding organisations comply with the Conditions and it has a range of powers it may use if an organisation is not complying.

Apprentices: Taxation

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans for the proposed apprenticeship levy only to apply to private companies.

Nick Boles: The levy will apply to all larger employers in the UK.I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17th July to Question UIN 6449.

Education: Qualifications

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraph 3.13 of the report Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published in July 2015, what qualifications he intends to abolish; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles: The paragraph relates to professional and technical qualifications which are eligible for government funding and/or for inclusion in school performance tables. Since 2011, the government has applied more rigorous criteria for these, based on relevance to the needs of learners and employers and on demand from learners. As a result, the number of qualifications eligible for funding for learners aged 19 and over has been reduced from 10,000 in 2012 to 4,400 in the 2015-16 academic year; and the number included in 16-18 performance tables from 4,433 in 2013 to 321 in 2015-16. We intend to continue the process of simplifying and streamlining the system and, as the Productivity Plan says, we will set out more details of our reforms in the autumn.

Iron and Steel

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will endorse the Charter for Sustainable British Steel and amend his Department's procurement policies accordingly.

Anna Soubry: We support the efforts of the UK steel industry to demonstrate the quality and sustainability of its product. It is for the industry to make this case to all procurement agencies and the wider industry, and, in that regard, we welcome the voluntary charter and I am pleased that a number of Councils have signed up to it.

Productivity

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of employee ownership on national productivity; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: We are not aware of any studies into the link between employee ownership and national productivity. Research published in 2014 by the Employee Ownership Association showed that businesses with employee ownership (where employees have both a meaningful financial stake and a say in how the business is run) had a year-on-year increase in productivity of 4.5%. The Government worked closely with experts, including from the Employee Ownership Association, in delivering the 2012 Nuttall Recommendations to reduce barriers to increasing the number of employee ownership businesses. This work was completed in 2014.

Students: Grants

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many recipients of student maintenance grants there are in each parliamentary constituency.

Joseph Johnson: Statistics showing the number of English domiciled applicants awarded Maintenance Grants for study at UK providers are published annually by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education in England’. http://www.slc.co.uk/official-statistics/financial-support-awarded/england-higher-education.aspx   The number of Maintenance Grants awarded to English domiciled applicants at UK providers from each Constituency in the academic year 2013/14 has been provided in the attached table. 



Maintenance Grants 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 22.73 KB)

Postal Services: Compensation

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will request the Royal Mail to review the (a) effectiveness and (b) fairness of its postal compensation scheme.

George Freeman: The specific details of its compensation arrangements are essentially a commercial matter for Royal Mail.   Customers who use stamps, on-line postage, or franking meters to pay for Royal Mail services do so under ‘Postal Schemes’ rather than individual contractual arrangements. These ‘Schemes’ are made under Section 89 of the Postal Services Act 2000 (as amended), which requires the company to formally consult with customers and stakeholders before amending its Schemes.   Royal Mail is also required by regulation to ensure that it maintains fair and reasonable remedies and redress. Ofcom, the postal regulator, monitors the effectiveness of compensation arrangements and has the power to direct Royal Mail to modify its Schemes if necessary.   The Schemes have been amended and updated on a number of occasions in recent years. More information about the Schemes and related consultations can be found on Royal Mail’s website (www.royalmailgroup.com/regulation/consultations/).

Science: Finance

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraph 8.3 of the document Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, what areas and markets are of strategic importance and potential to the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills works with its partners to ensure investments are directed to areas in which the UK excels and has potential to excel. UK Trade and Investment helps identify foreign markets of strategic importance. Innovate UK and the Catapult Centres work to commercialise new and emerging technologies in areas where there are significant global market opportunities and a critical mass of UK capability. Through the recently announced Science and Innovation Audits, the Government will work with universities, cities, Local Enterprise Partnerships and businesses to map strengths and identify potential areas of strategic focus for different areas.

Business: Innovation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage greater business participation in the Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: My Department is working with Innovate UK to ensure that the best possible information and support is available for businesses that stand to gain from participation in the €79bn Horizon 2020 programme. Innovate UK’s support now includes National Contact Points providing advice to applicants and the Knowledge Transfer Network helping companies to identify suitable opportunities. The Catapult centres and other research and technology organisations also have an important role to play in helping build consortia and coordinate project applications.

Apprentices: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people who completed an apprenticeship programme in (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria received a full-time job within six months of completion of their apprenticeship in each of the last six years.

Nick Boles: The Government’s 2014 survey of apprentices showed that around 90% of apprentices are employed on completion of training, including 2% who were self-employed. 70% are full time, 18% are part time. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeships-evaluation-learner-survey-2014 Figures for (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria and dating back 6 years are not collected.

Industry

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many people were employed in the aerospace, defence, security and space industry in (a) each country of the UK and (b) each region of England in the last year for which figures are available.

Anna Soubry: Employment in the aerospace industry in 2013 for each country of the United Kingdom and each region in England is given in the attached table. The ‘aerospace, defence, security and space industry’ is defined by the Standard industrial classification sectors: 30.3 manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery and 33.16 repair and maintenance of aircraft and spacecraft. This includes both civil and defence activity. 



Employment in Aerospace and Space Industry
(PDF Document, 171.49 KB)

Industry

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the contribution to the UK economy of the cyber-technology sector within the aerospace, defence, security and space industry.

Anna Soubry: The contribution made to the UK economy by the cyber-technology sector within the aerospace, defence, security and space industry is not separately recorded.

Further Education: Finance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of further education colleges reported a financial deficit in 2014-15.

Nick Boles: Further education colleges report on an academic year basis. The 2014/15 academic year ends in August 2015 so the information requested will not be available until January 2016.   In 2013/14 110 out of 244 colleges, representing 45% of colleges, reported an operating deficit.

Ministry of Defence

Defence Equipment: Procurement

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what ministerial visits to sites involved in defence manufacturing there have been since 7 May 2010; and whether the local hon. Member was present at each such visit.

Michael Fallon: Details of site visits are published regularly in Transparency returns on gov.uk. In accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Ministry of Defence routinely informs local MPs in advance if a Minister intends to visit their constituency. Details about the attendance of the local hon. Members on individual visits could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Defence: Finance

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to achieve the target of two per cent of GDP allocated to defence without including items hitherto borne (a) by the Secret Vote and (b) on other budgets of other Government departments; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: As confirmed in the summer budget, the Government is committed to meeting the properly measured NATO pledge to spend 2% of national income on defence every year of this decade. This will include public spending that supports the Ministry of Defence and the contribution made by the secret intelligence agencies.The UK's returns to NATO have historically included spending from other Government departments, and NATO asks allies to include all spending that contributes to delivering defence.

Type 26 Frigates

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his intention to order 13 Type 26 frigates.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 March 2015 to Question 224988 to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).



Type 26 Frigates
(Word Document, 25.5 KB)

Air Force: Fairbourne

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the civilian operational costs were of the Force Development Training Centre at Fairbourne in (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2014-15.

Mark Lancaster: The civilian operating costs of the Force Development Training Centre at Fairbourne in financial year 2014-2015 were some £169,000. The costs for financial year 2015-2016, from 1 April to 30 June 2015, were some £38,000.

Air Force: Fairbourne

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to reach a decision on the future of the Force Development Training Centre at Fairbourne.

Mark Lancaster: The recommendations from the RAF's Review of Force Development and Adventurous Training are being carefully considered to ensure that this training provides the optimum support solution for Defence. The outcome of the Review will be announced in due course.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to modernise the (a) Challenger II tank and (b) Warrior armoured fighting vehicle; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has plans to modernise both Challenger 2 and Warrior to retain the Army's capability to field these vehicles to 2035 and 2040 respectively.A contract was placed in October 2011 for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Programme which will include an improved turret with a new stabilised 40mm cannon and a tailored armour mounting system. The Challenger 2 Life Extension Programme is currently in the concept phase and this will address the key obsolescence issues on the vehicle.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to establish a Scout specialist vehicle assembly line in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is currently considering an unsolicited proposal from General Dynamics for an extension to the existing initial in-service support arrangements for the Scout Specialist Vehicle during its manufacture period. This extension might result in General Dynamics Land Systems UK taking the decision to transfer some vehicle assembly to the UK.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Scout specialist vehicles he plans to procure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence is procuring 589 Scout Specialist Vehicles.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Lightning IIs he intends to procure; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The overall number of Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to be procured will be considered during the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Defence Equipment and Support

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many external consultants are employed in Defence Equipment and Support by his Department.

Mr Philip Dunne: Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) does not hold details of the number of consultants employed. DE&S negotiates contracts with consultancy companies to deliver a specific output at an agreed price. It does not specify the number of consultants to be employed to deliver those outputs as this is a matter for the contractor.

Civil Service

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants have filed and subsequently withdrawn HR Form 034 since 27 October 2014.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants filed and subsequently withdrew HR Form 034 in each of the last four financial years.

Mark Lancaster: HR Form 034 is for Ministry of Defence Civil Servants only. It is not possible to provide the information requested because records of resignation withdrawals are not held on the Ministry of Defence's Human Resources Management System. If a resignation was entered on to the system using HR Form 034, but then withdrawn, it is deleted.

Air Force

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many serving members of the Fleet Air Arm have given notice of their intention to leave before serving the time that they signed up for in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The number of serving members of the Fleet Air Arm who have given notice of their intention to leave before serving the time that they signed up for in each of the last five years is as follows:YearsTotal No*.July 2010 - June 2011200July 2011 - June 2012200July 2012 - June 2013270July 2013 - June 2014340July 2014 - June 2015320*The above figures have been rounded in accordance with Defence Statistics Policy; as a result, the totals may not equal the sum of their component parts.

Armed Forces: Job Satisfaction

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the level of morale amongst military personnel on the front line.

Mark Lancaster: Although the Ministry of Defence does not measure the level of morale amongst Armed Forces personnel specifically on the front line, we do conduct an annual continuous attitude survey which measures morale and I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 3 June 2015 to Question 498 to the hon. Member for North Durham (Kevan Jones).   



Armed Forces: Job Satisfaction
(Word Document, 27.5 KB)

Raytheon: Contracts

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the recent contract awarded to Raytheon Systems Ltd for Paveway IV bombs is intended to (a) replenish or (b) increase stock.

Mr Philip Dunne: In June 2015 a contract was awarded to Raytheon Systems Ltd for the replenishment of Paveway IV Precision Guided Bombs.

Saudi Arabia: Yemen

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2015 to Question HL1125 on Saudi Arabia: Yemen, how many precision-guided weapons of what type are being provided to Saudi Arabian armed forces; what procedures are in place to monitor the use of such weapons by Saudi Arabian armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: We do not routinely reveal the exact numbers of precision guided weapons being provided to the Saudi authorities as to do so would prejudice commercial interests, and also to protect Saudi operational security. The release of this information would be a matter for the Saudi authorities.The UK aims to operate one of the most rigorous and transparent export control regimes in the world. Each licence application is rigorously assessed using internationally recognised criteria. The Saudis have provided repeated assurances to us that they will be used in compliance with international humanitarian law and we continue to engage with them on those assurances.

Saudi Arabia: Yemen

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 September to Question 207819 on Saudi Arabia, what roles British personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia are carrying out in support of the Saudi armed forces military operations in Yemen; what steps he has taken to ensure that such military operations are not in breech of international humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: The UK provides routine teams of personnel to support Saudi Arabia, under existing government-to-government arrangements. None of these personnel are participating directly in Saudi military operations. We currently have:11 personnel providing mentoring and advice to the Saudi Arabian National Guard, as part of the British Military Mission to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.18 military and 19 civilian personnel working on the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project to acquire and support, modern communications capabilities for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.76 military and 42 civilian personnel working on the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects, supporting the United Kingdom's commitment to the defence of Saudi Arabia through the supply of modern military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces.In addition to these personnel, we have also deployed a small number of liaison personnel in Saudi and coalition Air and Maritime Headquarters. This includes personnel in the Maritime Coalition Coordination Centre in Bahrain to help ease the flow of humanitarian aid into Yemen.We have received assurances from the Saudis that they are complying with International Humanitarian Law and we continue to engage with them on those assurances.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the 21 concurrent operations in which UK armed forces are presently engaged, together with (a) their location, (b) their planned duration and (c) the numbers of personnel involved in each such operation.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 2015 to Question 2510 to the right hon. Member of Mid Sussex (Sir Nicholas Soames).We do not disclose all details of ongoing operations, including their duration, as disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces. On top of this, the duration of some operations is open-ended or subject to review.



Armed Forces: Deployment
(Word Document, 26.5 KB)

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Prices

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average retail price was of a (a) one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed and (d) four-bed unit outside London in (i) council, (ii) registered social landlord and (iii) private housing in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: Quarterly and annual statistics on mean, median and lower quartile house prices in England and in each local authority district, based on land Registry data, are published in the Department’s live tables 581, 582, 583, 585, 586 and 587 which are available at the following link. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-housing-market-and-house-prices Monthly statistics on the change in average house prices by property type in England are published by the Land Registry and are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/house-price-index-statistical-report The requested level of detail is not held by the Department.

Local Government: Elections

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will devolve powers to local authorities on determining the type of voting system used in local elections.

Mr Marcus Jones: There are no plans to devolve such powers.

Communities and Local Government: Trade Unions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what meetings his Department has had with trades unions in the last 12 months.

Mr Mark Francois: The list below sets out what meetings the Department has held over the last 12 months with the trade union side. Meetings were held with the three (Prospect, the FDA and Public and Commercial Services Union) recognised Departmental trade unions to discuss:   Pay and Performance ManagementEqualitiesThe Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSOP) staff transfersGeneral HR policies updates/changesFacility time and check-offWhitley structure and general housekeeping/introductoryOffice movesVoluntary exitsShared servicesHuman Resources Casework/reasonable adjustmentHealth and Safety All meetings with the three Departmental trade unions were with DCLG officials. DCLG officials have also met with the Fire Officers Association, Retained Firefighters Union, Fire Brigades Union, Unison, Unite and the GMB to discuss various issues, including pensions schemes. In my role as Fire Minister, I have had introductory meetings with the Retained Firefighters Union, the Fire Officers Association and the Fire Brigades Union. The previous Fire Minister, the hon. Member for Portsmouth North (Penny Mordaunt), had introductory meetings and discussions on firefighters’ pensions with the Retained Firefighters Union, the Fire Officers Association and the Fire Brigades Union.

Leasehold: Service Charges

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to protect leaseholders who are not protected under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 or Mobile Homes Act 2013 from compound increases in service charges.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 16 July 2015



We are considering the Supreme Court judgment (Arnold v Britton) given on 10 June 2015.

Coastal Communities Fund

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.30 of the Summer Budget 2015, how much funding has been assigned to the Coastal Communities Fund in each fiscal year to 2020-21.

Mr Mark Francois: No detailed decisions have been taken yet on the annual budget allocations for the £90 million extension of the Coastal Community Fund to 2020-21. Future funding arrangements will be considered as part of the 2015 Spending Review.

Social Rented Housing: Greater London

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Chancellor's Budget Statement of 8 July 2015, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Pay to Stay scheme on social rents in London; and if he will make a statement.

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Chancellor's Budget Statement of 8 July 2015, what steps he plans to take to implement the Pay to Stay scheme in London; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Government has committed to implementing the pay to stay policy, the detail of which will be set out in due course.

Homelessness: Young People

Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people aged between 18 and 21 are designated as homeless in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department's statistics show that 13,490 households where the main applicant was aged 16 to 24 years old were accepted as statutorily homeless in England during the financial year 2014/15. Figures are not available for 18 to 21 year olds. Homelessness for Wales and Scotland is a devolved matter.

Temporary Accommodation

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of local authority temporary accommodation that was procured on a nightly booked basis in (a) England and (b) London in each of the last three years.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on households by types of temporary accommodation (incuding bed and breakfast hotels) in England and London are published in Live Table 775 at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness

Local Government: Cooperation

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to collaborate with other public bodies to use the same premises; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities work with other public bodies to house their offices in public sector buildings and hubs; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Department does not collect data on which local authorities work with other public bodies to house their offices. However, we encourage all authorities to make the best use of their assets to save money and provide collaborative services by sharing of premises. In November 2014, we announced a further tranche of £89.4 million Transformation Challenge Award funding for 2015-16. The successful bids included local authorities sharing buildings as well as services with public sector partners, such as Charnwood Borough Council’s co-locating its customer service office with Jobcentre Plus and Leicestershire County Council. This will provide customers with a one-stop jobs and benefits service and annual accommodation savings of some £440,000. My Department is also encouraging and supporting collaboration through the £75 million Fire Service Transformation Fund. Out of the 37 winning bids, 31 of those bids are for collaboration-type activities with other emergency services, including through sharing stations and services. The One Public Estate programme, jointly run by Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association, supports collaboration across central and local government and the wider public sector on asset management. Across the programme over 40 co-location opportunities are being taken forward. For example Hampshire County Council, fire and rescue service and Police Force have an integrated (shared services) business centre and shared facilities at Alresford, Stockbridge and Redbridge fire stations. Two of these locations are also used as ambulance standby points, making them emergency service ‘blue light hubs’. Following last week’s Budget announcement of £6 million to extend the programme, we would expect this to support an increase in co-location opportunities over the Parliament.

Local Government: Cooperation

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities share (a) a chief executive, (b) senior officers and (c) senior officers with other public sector bodies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government does not collect data on the arrangements made by local authorities however it is aware that there are around 20 shared chief executives and many more shared management teams.Local authorities can achieve very substantial benefits for their communities through joint working arrangements and sharing management structures. It gives local authorities the capacity and mechanisms to transform services so that they meet the needs of the communities that they serve and focus resources on where they make the biggest difference. This Government will not prescribe how local authorities should organise their management structures but will encourage them to improve service delivery and productivity. There are already several types of local governance covering more than one local authority area including five combined authorities and the proposed Metro Mayor and Combined Authority in Greater Manchester. The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill will enable constituent authorities of cities to propose and negotiate with the Secretary of State the devolution of far reaching powers over economic development and transport and social care, under directly elected mayors. The Government has also committed to negotiating bespoke growth deals with other places.

Social Rented Housing: Young People

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many social housing tenants aged under 25 are (a) women, (b) men, (c) black and minority ethnic, (d) white British and (e) disabled.

Brandon Lewis: According to the English Housing Survey the following people aged under 25 were tenants in social housing in England in 2013-14: a) 206,000 women; b) 71,000 men; c) 56,000 black or ethnic minority; d) 215,000 white British; and, e) 38,000 disabled.

Local Government Finance

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to provide additional funding to support local authorities' to take account of changes in the Summer Budget 2015 which will (a) increase the minimum wage and (b) reduce the rents paid by social tenants.

Mr Marcus Jones: The impact of the new National Living Wage on local authority finances will be considered during the Spending Review as part of an overall assessment of spending pressures on local authorities. We believe that local authorities should be able to manage the reduction in rents paid by social tenants, but will be engaging with them as they develop their plans to meet their reductions. We will consider later in the year whether any council needs any particular support to manage their business plans, above that already provided through sector-led support.

Social Rented Housing: Rents

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how much each local authority in England received in rent from its social housing tenants in each year from 2010 to 2015 and (b) how much each local authority in England will receive in rent from its social housing tenants in 2019-20 following the announcement in the Summer Budget 2015 of a one per cent cut in each year of this Parliament.

Brandon Lewis: Income to the Housing Revenue Account is recorded in the Revenue Accounts and published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing The Department does not produce forecasts of local authorities rents.

Local Government Services: Rural Areas

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve service delivery by local authorities in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Government is committed to providing local government with the support it needs to meet future challenges and to continue to improve services that local people want to see. The Government is also committed to devolving powers from Whitehall to rural as well as urban areas. My rt. hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced on 16 July historic new powers for Cornwall as part of the first devolution deal for an English county. This includes bus franchising, integration of health and social care, and greater influence on skills and investment funding. As with cities the Government expect to negotiate further devolution deals with rural areas over the coming months and years. In addition, in 2015-16 the Rural Services Delivery Grant was increased by £4 million to £15.5 million to recognise the challenges the most rural local authorities face in delivering services. The Government has also provided significant funding to support the sector to improve services (£23.4 million in 2015-16). The sector can shape, through the Local Government Association, how this funding is used to support all authorities, including rural ones. Furthermore, the productivity plan, published on 10 July, set out our continued commitment to shifting the delivery and design of services to the local level, promoting the use of shared services and increasing the use of digital technology and data sharing to enable services to reduce costs and increase outputs. We will work with areas on these issues ahead of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average time was for an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to be heard following validation in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The table below shows the average time for an appeal to be heard, following validation, in the last five years.Fiscal Year Weeks2010-11 14.32011-12 12.42012-13 14.82013-14 162014-15 13.8

Homelessness

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has for the future of the homelessness gold standard programme.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Homelessness Gold Standard programme is a voluntary, sector-led initiative delivered by the National Practitioner Support Service and hosted by Winchester City Council to support local authorities to improve the effectiveness of homelessness prevention services. We provided £2.2 million between 2013/14 and 2014/15 to kick start the programme and help to get the scheme off the ground. Nearly all councils in England have signed up to working toward the Gold Standard, thus enabling them to access the support and good practice the programme offers. There are no current plans for future spending.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average time was for an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate to be validated in each of the last (a) 12 months and (b) five years.

Brandon Lewis: The attached table shows the average time taken for all Section 78 Planning appeals and Householder appeals to be validated in the last (a) 12 months and (b) five years.



Table - Planning Appeals
(Word Document, 21 KB)

Homelessness: West Yorkshire

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people are designated as homeless in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) Leeds; and what proportion of them are aged (i) under 18 and (ii) between 18 and 21.

Mr Marcus Jones: Figures are not available for those aged under 18 or between 18 and 21 years old.

Local Government: Living Wage

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate what the cost to each local authority in England and Wales will be of paying staff the new National Living Wage in April (a) 2016 and (b) 2020.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research his Department has carried out on the effect of the National Living Wage on local authority staffing costs; and if he will place a copy of such research in the Library.

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with the Local Government Association on providing financial support for local authorities to assist meeting any costs of paying staff the National Living Wage.

Mr Marcus Jones: The impact of the new National Living Wage on local authority finances will be considered during the Spending Review as part of an overall assessment of spending pressures on local authorities. The Department has regular discussions with the Local Government Association about a range of matters, and will continue to engage with them and other interested parties as part of the Spending Review.

Housing: Construction

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of a rise in mortgage rates on future levels of house building.

Brandon Lewis: There are many factors which can influence rates of house building. My Department keeps these issues under review. This Government’s stewardship of the economy has helped to keep interest rates at a record low, helping many families with their mortgages.

Social Rented Housing: EU Nationals

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2015 to Question 5575, how the four-year residency of EU migrants is to be proven; upon whom the onus of proof that the residency criterion is met will lie; and what measures social housing providers will take to verify any proof they are given that residency criteria are met.

Brandon Lewis: The detail of how the policy will be implemented will be determined following successful EU treaty negotiation. However, local authorities are already experienced in assessing whether foreign national applicants meet the eligibility criteria for social housing set by central government as well as the authority’s local residency test.

Housing: Construction

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 917 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, whether under these proposals local authorities could be required to allow new building on greenbelt sites in cases where the Government imposes a local plan on their behalf.

Brandon Lewis: This Government reaffirmed in its election manifesto that we would maintain strong protection for Green Belt in line with our policy in the National Planning Policy Framework. The Framework makes clear that most new building is inappropriate in Green Belt, and that a Green Belt boundary may be altered only in exceptional circumstances, through the Local Plan. Planning guidance reminds local authorities that, in planning to meet housing need, they must have regard to policies in the Framework on the protection of areas such as Green Belt, which indicate that development should be restricted. Where there is no up-to-date Local Plan, new draft Plans will continue to be produced in consultation with local people.

Housing: Construction

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 9.17 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published on 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, how he plans to adequately resource local authorities to ensure planning decisions are made on time where they are currently failing to do so.

Brandon Lewis: Most planning decisions are already made on time - 77% of major decisions in 2014-15. It is important for every council to give planning the priority it needs, as effective planning supports growth and revenue for the area. The resources available to local government as a whole will be considered as part of this autumn's spending review.

Housing: Construction

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 9.21 of the document Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published on 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, what assessment his Department has made of additional infrastructure needs as a result of removing the need for planning permission for upwards extensions.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 9.21 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published on 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, whether height restrictions will apply in the policy to remove the need for planning permission for upwards extensions.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 921 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of removing the need for planning permission for upwards extensions on building safety.

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 9.21 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published on 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, whether the policy of allowing extra storeys to be built on neighbouring properties in London will apply to (a) residential and (b) commercial property.

Brandon Lewis: In developing the detail of our proposals we will work with the Mayor of London, who has the strategic planning responsibility for London including for infrastructure plans. This will include consideration of what type of buildings should benefit from the new rights, and any necessary requirements to protect local amenity and address any impacts.All developments benefiting from the new rights will still need to comply with current building regulations, as well any other relevant legislation such as the Party Wall Act and environmental legislation.

Housing: Construction

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 917 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, what the scope is of those projects with an element of housing development which can be fast tracked through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime.

Brandon Lewis: We are committed to allowing nationally significant infrastructure projects with an element of housing to be consented under the Planning Act 2008. This will require amendments to primary legislation and information on the scope of the proposal will be set out in a future Bill.

Housing: Greater London

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) social and (b) affordable homes were built in (i) London and (ii) each London borough in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on additional affordable housing provided in each local authority area in England are published in the Department’s live tables 1006 (social rent), and 1006a (affordable rent), which are available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply These figures include both newly built housing and acquisitions.

Housing: Building Alterations

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the aesthetic effect of loft extensions on residential areas.

Brandon Lewis: Our planning guidance includes a strong focus on design, and provides advice on tools such as design codes. Our technical guidance on householder permitted development rights sets out advice on minimising the visual impacts of loft extensions.

Housing: Overcrowding

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) children and (b) adults were living in overcrowded accommodation in (i) London and (ii) each London borough in each year since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: According to the English Housing Survey, in 2010 there were 434,000 children and 708,000 adults living in overcrowded accommodation in London. For 2011, there were 435,000 children and 703,000 adults, and for 2012 there were 420,000 children and 693,000 adults living in overcrowded accomodation in London.My Department does not record or collect the information requested at London borough level.

Green Belt

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of building on greenbelt sites in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: An estimate of the amount of development on Green Belt land in the year 2011 was published in the Department’s Land Use Change Statistics in 2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/land-use-change-statistics-in-england-2011 Land Use Change Statistics for the year 2013-14, produced using a new and better methodology that will allow more detailed statistical and spatial analysis will be published on 6 August.

Railways: Radlett

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what weight he gave to the likely effect on commuter train services of the work needed to the Elstree Tunnels when approving the Radlett Rail Freight Terminal.

Brandon Lewis: My rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State's letter of 14 July 2014 sets out the weightings he gave in his determination of this appeal. The letter is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recovered-appeal-former-aerodrome-north-orbital-road-upper-colne-valley-hertfordshire-ref-2109433-14-july-2014.

Housing: Energy

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 9.17 of Fixing the foundations: creating a more prosperous nation, published on 10 July 2015, Cm 9098, what impact assessment his Department has made of any impact assessment of reducing net regulation on housebuilders on meeting climate change targets.

James Wharton: Estimates of the carbon savings from regulation on housebuilders in England have been included in the Updated Emissions Projections published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The Government will be taking into account changes in policy in the next update of those projections.

Private Rented Housing: Evictions

Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to sections 33 to 41 of the Deregulation Act 2015, when he expects to make the commencement order on retaliatory evictions.

Brandon Lewis: The commencement order bringing in the provisions on retaliatory evictions was made on 27 March 2015. It is titled, the Deregulation Act 2015 (Commencement No 1 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2015, and available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/994/contents/made. Its provisions have effect from 1 October 2015.

HM Treasury

Royal Bank of Scotland

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will investigate whether senior employees of RBS have acted fraudulently in relation to interest swap arrangements with customers deemed to be sophisticated.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government has been very clear that the mis-selling of financial products is wrong and it is important that those businesses that have been affected are compensated. In May 2013, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a redress scheme for small businesses which had been mis-sold Interest Rate Hedging Products (IRHPs). The scheme is now close to conclusion and, to date, 17,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been through the FCA redress scheme. Of these, 12,000 SMEs have accepted their offer, amounting to over £1.9 billion in payouts. Any investigation would be a matter for the FCA in its role as independent regulator.

Treasury: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Harriett Baldwin: The Chancellor has announced a new National Living Wage compulsory as of next April, expected to reach £9 an hour by 2020. Tackling low pay is part of the Government’s plan to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.

Public Sector: Pay

Louise Haigh: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the one per cent cap on public sector pay rises will apply to people earning the statutory minimum wage.

Greg Hands: At the Summer Budget 2015 it was announced that the government will fund public sector workforces for a pay award of one per cent for each of four years from 2016-17.   The one per cent pay award is an average that applies to a department rather than each individual. This means that departments are free to distribute the award among staff based on their own requirements.   The Minimum Wage and National Living Wage are both statutory requirements and are paid to public sector workers. Those on the Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will see pay rises in line with the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Mr Gary Streeter: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will investigate the conduct of RBS in relation to interest rate mis-selling to customers deemed to be sophisticated.

Harriett Baldwin: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer that I gave to his question [6699] on 21 July 2015.

Rent a Room Scheme

Owen Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of change in applications for rent-a-room tax relief as a result of changes introduced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Mr David Gauke: Individuals do not need to separately notify HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that they are claiming Rent-a-Room relief if their gross rental income is less than the Rent-a-Room threshold.   For this reason, it is not possible to estimate the number of additional individuals who will submit a claim for the relief.

Rent a Room Scheme

Owen Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) households and (b) individuals have (i) applied for and (ii) received rent-a-room relief in each year since 2010.

Mr David Gauke: It is not possible to provide a complete account of the number of individuals claiming rent a room relief. Not all individuals who claim the relief have to report this to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – those with gross rental income below the threshold of £4,250, and those who fill in the short Self Assessment return do not have to explicitly claim the relief.   The number of individuals who indicated they were claiming some amount of relief is shown in the table below.   Total number of individuals filling out the SA105 property pages of the main SA100 Self Assessment return indicating that they were claiming the relief2009/102010/112011/122012/132013/1444,00045,00047,00050,00052,000   It is not possible to provide this data on a household level.

Revenue and Customs: Equal Pay

Danny Kinahan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to publish the 2013 HM Revenue and Customs Equal Pay Audit; what the reasons are for the time taken to publish that audit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: The 2013 HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Equal Pay Audit will be published by the autumn this year. The audit was scheduled for publication in April 2014, but this has been delayed due to a requirement to include additional statistical analysis.

Monetary Policy

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the quantitative easing programme put in place by the Bank of England.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998, gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).   The MPC’s macroeconomic policy tools, including quantitative easing, are designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2 per cent inflation target over the medium term.

Monetary Policy

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the criteria under which assets issued as a result of the quantitative easing programme would be bought back.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998 gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Decisions on the use of monetary policy tools, including quantitative easing, are for the judgement of the MPC.

Monetary Policy

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he expects further quantitative easing to be undertaken in the next three years.

Harriett Baldwin: The UK’s monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998, gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Decisions on the use of monetary policy tools, including quantitative easing, are for the judgement of the MPC.

Productivity

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the sustainable rate of productive potential in the UK economy.

Harriett Baldwin: In 2010 the government established the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK’s public finances.   The OBR forecast in July 2015 that potential productivity will grow by 1.4 per cent in 2015, 1.8 per cent in 2016, 2.0 per cent in 2017, 2.1 per cent in 2018 and 2.2 per cent thereafter.

Income Tax

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to treat carried interest profits on investment fund income as liable for income tax.

Mr David Gauke: The capital gains tax treatment of carried interest is long-standing and is consistent with international practice. The government announced legislation at Summer Budget to ensure that managers pay at least the full rate of capital gains tax on their economic gain from carried interest.   The government is also consulting on proposals to ensure that this capital gains tax treatment is only accessible by individuals who manage funds carrying on genuine long-term investment activity and not more widely.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Ian Blackford: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have accessed the Pension Wise service in each week since the inception of that service.

Harriett Baldwin: The pension freedoms introduced on 6 April mean that the 320,000 individuals retiring each year with defined contribution pension savings are able to access them as they wish, and around 2 million people aged over 55 now have more options when they retire.   Information on Pension Wise service usage will be published in due course.

Taxation

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.171 of the Summer Budget 2015, whether the £800 million investment in tackling tax non-compliance and evasion has been diverted from other business areas.

Mr David Gauke: The Summer Budget 2015 announced significant additional investment of £800m in HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) work on non‑compliance and tax evasion covering a range of areas.   As well as announcing additional resource for these measures, the government is committed to providing HMRC with the funding it needs to maintain its current level of compliance performance, while making efficiencies.

Compulsory Purchase: Capital Gains Tax

Michael Fabricant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on reform of capital gains tax in relation to compulsory purchase.

Mr David Gauke: Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of individuals and organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.   As has been the case with previous administrations, it is not the Governments practice to provide details of such meetings.

Child Tax Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether families with disabled children born after 6 April 2017 will continue to receive both the child element of child tax credit and the new disability element on account of that child, irrespective of how many other children are in the household.

Damian Hinds: As announced at Summer Budget, families will no longer be able to claim additional support through Child Tax Credit for third or subsequent children in a family where the child is born after April 2017.   Support through the disabled child element and severely disabled child element in Child Tax Credit will be maintained for children born after April 2017.

Office of Tax Simplification

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional responsibilities he intends to give to the Office for Tax Simplification; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: I refer the Rt. Hon member to the Written Ministerial Statement on the Office of Tax Simplification published on 21 July 2015

Apprentices: Taxation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what level he intends to set the apprenticeship levy; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands: Employer investment in skills has been a problem since the 1990s. The new apprenticeship levy will mean that firms that are committed to training will be able to get back more than the put in. Further details will be set out at the spending review.

Inheritance Tax

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average length of time is between the date of receipt by HM Revenue and Customs of correspondence about inheritance tax liability and a response being given.

Mr David Gauke: The information is not available as HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) do not record the time taken between receipt and response for each piece of correspondence about inheritance tax.   HMRC aims to respond to 80% of general inheritance tax correspondence within 15 working days. If the correspondence is a full inheritance tax return a response will take longer because of routine compliance checks.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many claimants will receive a net reduction in (a) tax credits, (b) disability living allowance and (c) housing support as a result of measures in the 2015 Summer Budget.

Damian Hinds: The Government is making changes to Tax Credits and Universal Credit which will help put welfare spending on a more sustainable path. That means more emphasis on support to hardworking families on low incomes by reducing income tax through increases in the personal allowance and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.   HMT has published distributional analysis information on the impact of the Summer Budget 2015 which includes the effect of tax credit and other welfare measures on households. This information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443229/PU1822_Distributional_Analysis.pdf

Dividend Tax Credits

Owen Thompson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the number of people that received dividends of £5,000 or more in 2014.

Mr David Gauke: At the Summer Budget 2015 the Chancellor announced that the dividend tax credit will be replaced by a new £5,000 tax-free dividend allowance from April 2016.   A tax information and impact note setting out expected impacts will be published alongside draft legislation prior to the changes being legislated in Finance Bill 2016.

Welfare Tax Credits

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department has issued on how tax credit claimants can calculate how much their tax credit entitlement will change as a result of changes to tax credit entitlement announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Damian Hinds: Updated guidance and advice will be available on tax credits entitlement in advance of the implementation of the new measures, announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Welfare Tax Credits: Scotland

Martyn Day: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the total reduction in credits to households in Scotland that will arise in the next financial year as a result of measures announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Martyn Day: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of households in Scotland which will experience a reduction in tax credits as a result of measures announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Martyn Day: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the average change in income for (a) women and (b) households with children of the tax credit changes outlined in the Summer Budget 2015.

Damian Hinds: The Government is making changes to Tax Credits and Universal Credit which will help put welfare spending on a more sustainable path. That means more emphasis on support to hardworking families on low incomes by reducing income tax through increases in the personal allowance and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits. HMT has published distributional analysis information on the impact of the Summer Budget 2015 tax credit measures on households. This information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443229/PU1822_Distributional_Analysis.pdf   The government is focusing the tax credits system on those who need it most. Prior to 2010, 9 out of 10 families with children in the UK were eligible for tax credits The measures announced in the Summer Budget 2015 will result in 5 out of 10 UK families being eligible for tax credits support.   The number of affected households and total reduction in credits to households in Scotland is not available. HMRC publishes information on families’ tax credit award within Scotland. The most recent available data is for 2013-14 and can be found here on gov.uk.

Social Security Benefits

Cat Smith: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of proposed changes to tax credits and housing benefit in the Summer Budget 2015 on long-term trends in family size.

Damian Hinds: The reforms to Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit will ensure that in the future, families on benefits will have to make the same financial decisions as families supporting themselves through work.

Covent Garden Market Authority

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what payments have accrued to the Exchequer from the New Covent Garden Market Authority in the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is legally prohibited from discussing the tax affairs of identifiable businesses.   Section 18 of the Commissioners for Revenue & Customs Act 2005 imposes a duty of confidentiality upon officers of HMRC which means they are unable to disclose information which relates to functions of HMRC.   However, please let me assure you that HMRC is fully committed to ensuring that everyone pays the tax that is due.

Income Tax: Scotland

Ian Murray: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in his Department are working on the Scottish rate of income tax.

Mr David Gauke: HM Treasury regularly reviews and deploys its staff as appropriate to meet ministerial and departmental priorities. Appropriate resource is being allocated to work on the Scottish rate of income tax from within existing departmental budgets.

Child Tax Credit

Alison Thewliss: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to Paragraph 2.103 of the Summer Budget 2015, if he will estimate the number of women who will be affected by the limit of child tax credits; and how many such women will be covered by exceptional circumstances.

Damian Hinds: The policy which limits the child element in tax credits and Universal Credit to two children, will only apply to those families with children born on or after 6 April 2017 or those making a new claim to Universal Credit after April 2017.   The Government will work closely with stakeholders on the details of implementation.

Fiscal Policy

Damian Green: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to help people keep more of their earnings.

Greg Hands: The government has committed to increasing the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate threshold to £50,000 by the end of the parliament, enabling people to keep more of the money they earn by paying less income tax. 8 out of 10 working households will be better off as a result of changes announced at this Budget to the personal allowance, National Living Wage and welfare.

Fiscal Policy

Steve Baker: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to help people keep more of their earnings.

Greg Hands: The government has committed to increasing the personal allowance to £12,500 and the higher rate threshold to £50,000 by the end of the parliament, enabling people to keep more of the money they earn by paying less income tax. 8 out of 10 working households will be better off as a result of changes announced at this Budget to the personal allowance, National Living Wage and welfare.

Children: Poverty

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the measures in the Summer Budget 2015 on child poverty.

Damian Hinds: This Government is committed to working to eliminate child poverty and improving life chances for children.   We know that work is the best route out of poverty, which is why we are focused on ensuring people have the skills and the opportunities to move into employment.

Public Sector: Borrowing

Paula Sherriff: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what change there has been in his estimate of the level of government borrowing required since the Budget in March 2015.

Greg Hands: The government has set out a strategy that reduces the deficit at the same rate again in this Parliament as over the previous Parliament - that means reducing the deficit by 1.1% of GDP a year on average, for the next four years. While borrowing is forecast to be £18bn higher over the forecast period, the resulting smoother fiscal path leads to a higher surplus and lower public sector net debt as a share of GDP, relative to the March Budget.

Average Earnings and Inflation

Matt Warman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparative assessment he has made of the rates of wage growth and inflation.

Damian Hinds: The hard work on economic recovery is now paying off as people see their pay packets growing faster. The most recent data shows that, at 3.2 per cent, real pay is growing at its fastest rate since 2007.

Women and Equalities

Castes

Kate Green: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend section 9 of the Equality Act 2010 to incorporate caste as a protected characteristic.

Caroline Dinenage: This Government completely opposes caste discrimination. Since coming into office, we have been considering the caste duty, particularly in the light of the Tirkey v Chandok employment appeal tribunal judgment. That suggests an existing legal remedy for claims of caste-associated discrimination under the ethnic origins element of section 9 of the Equality Act 2010. We note this potential protection and will continue to look at this issue carefully.

Members: Females

Angela Crawley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to improve the representation of women in Parliament.

Caroline Dinenage: There has been real progress in getting more women into politics. Following the 2015 general election there are now 191 women MPs - the highest number ever - and a third of the Cabinet is now female. 37% of the new intake of Conservative MPs are women.However looking forward, if we do not increase the talent pool from which candidates are elected we risk ignoring the greater potential of our communities. With this in mind, the Government has supported and promoted mentoring schemes and internships at local and national Government level. In addition, the Government has secured the commitment of a number of parties to provide greater transparency over candidate selection through the collection and publication of candidate diversity data.

Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Chancellor has announced a new National Living Wage which will be compulsory as of next April and is expected to reach £9 an hour by 2020. Tackling low pay is part of the Government's plan to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society. The Department for Transport pays the London Living Wage to its London employees and the UK Living Wage elsewhere.

Channel Tunnel Railway Line

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the contribution of 14 January 1994 by the then Minister for Public Transport, Official Report, column 432, on Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Compensation), what conclusion the Government drew from its consideration of legal advice commissioned by local authorities.

Claire Perry: Following the House of Commons Select Committee on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) Bill, an interdepartmental working group on blight (IDWGB) was established to review the impact of blight during major infrastructure projects. The Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions published the final report of the IDWGB in 1997. This report is in the public domain. The report recommended, amongst other things, the creation of a Property Purchase Guarantee and Compensation Scheme, although this was not adopted by the government of the day.

Crossrail Line

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of Crossrail development on existing retailers and traders in Tin Pan Alley, Denmark Street.

Claire Perry: Crossrail’s development is not impacting on existing retailers and traders in Tin Pan Alley. The site the Hon Member refers to is owned by another developer, Consolidated Developments.　 The buildings on Denmark Street are not required by Crossrail or London Underground for the upgrade of Tottenham Court Road station.　 Consolidated Developments acquired the site in 1996 and planning permission was granted by the London Borough of Camden in November 2013. Whilst the development site is situated adjacent to the London Underground / Crossrail worksite, the proposed development itself is a private venture and entirely separate from the Crossrail works.  Crossrail, in conjunction with TfL and Camden and Westminster Councils, is working to improve the urban realm around the eastern end of Oxford Circus.　 This includes a new piazza at St Giles Square that will re-establish the historic links between Oxford Street and Covent Garden as well as making it easier and safer for pedestrians to move into Dean Street and Soho Square.　 Crossrail is also bringing the first new West End theatre in over a decade to Soho and recently announced they have gained private sponsorship for the project’s art programme at Tottenham Court Road.

Railway Stations: Suicide

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that any train station that has been the location of more than one serious suicide attempt in the last five years has a barrier installed.

Claire Perry: Suicides are tragic incidents have a huge traumatic impact on family and friends of the individual concerned and also serious consequences for train drivers, station staff, and members of the public who witness incidents, police officers and all who rely on our railway infrastructure. We are supporting Network Rail which is leading on behalf of the industry to deliver its national rail suicide prevention programme. This includes working in partnership with the Samaritans to put in place a long-term strategy to reduce the number of railway suicides from prevention strategies to post-incident support work. Whilst consideration is given to the installation of physical barriers at stations where this is feasible in engineering and operational terms, suicides are a complex societal issue which require a multi-disciplinary solution.

Leeds-Bradford Airport

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the number of flights from Leeds-Bradford Airport of the expansion of (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) neither airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion were shortlisted by the Commission for further examination.The Airports Commission has discussed and consulted on how airports outside the South East might be affected by expansion at the shortlisted expansion options. The relevant documents can be found on the Airports Commission website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commissionThe Commission’s final report was published on 01 July 2015. The Government will not be commenting on the any of the Airports Commission’s recommendations until it has had time to examine all the evidence.

Regional Airports

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of road and rail access to regional airports; and which airports he rates as inadequate in this respect.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government has not made a general assessment of the adequacy of road and rail access to regional airports. It is for regional airports to work with their local authorities, local bus and rail companies and Local Economic Partnerships to identify opportunities to promote access to airports.   Where the scheme has a wider range of beneficiaries, the Government will consider, along with other relevant stakeholders, the need for additional public funding on a case-by-case basis.   With respect to Leeds Bradford, the Leeds Bradford International Airport Connectivity Study set out the potential benefit of a new link road and recommended further consideration of the opportunity for a rail link to be provided in the longer term. The Chancellor set out the Government’s response to the study in the 2014 Autumn Statement, in which he encouraged the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to consider how to take the recommendations forward.

Railways: Electrification

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral statement of 25 June 2015, Official Report, columns 1067-8, whether Network Rail will be liable to incur fines or other penalties in respect of (a) changes to the projects Network Rail is expected to deliver in Control Period 5 compared to the 2012 High Level Output specification and (b) variations to the Regulated Outputs Network Rail was committed to meeting relating to Midland Main Line electrification and TransPennine electrification as a result of the changes announced in that statement.

Claire Perry: The imposition of fines and penalties in relation to Network Rail’s regulated outputs a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).  Separately to the Secretary of State’s announcement of 25 June, the ORR is undertaking a review of Networks Rail’s overall planning, management and delivery of the first year of the Control Period 5 enhancement programme to establish whether formal enforcement action would be appropriate. Further details regarding that investigation can be found at:http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/18052/investigation-into-nr-enhancements-programme.pdf  andhttp://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/18053/tor-orr-investigation-into-nr-planning-and-delivery-of-enhancement-projects.pdf

Railways: North of England

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of a Northern Oyster Card for transport capacity and connectivity in the North of England.

Andrew Jones: A business case is being developed, in conjunction with Transport for the North, to enable the rail network in the North for smart ticketing. This will consider the impact on connectivity and capacity. The business case will also examine how rail services could be integrated with existing, and emerging, smart schemes in the Northern cities.

Petrol

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that petrol with nil or low biofuel content remains widely available for (a) vehicles registered as historic and (b) other older vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones: The ethanol content of petrol supplied in the UK is a commercial matter for fuel suppliers, subject to the Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) Regulations 1999 which set the maximum permissible ethanol content of petrol at ten per cent, known as E10. The Regulations set no minimum ethanol content.   E10 is not yet on sale in the UK. Petrol sold in the UK today typically contains up to five per cent ethanol, known as E5.   The Motor Fuel (Composition and Content) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 ensure that E5 petrol will continue to remain available until the end of 2016, thereby providing a ‘protection grade’ of petrol for drivers of those vehicles which would be incompatible with petrol which has a higher ethanol content.   Should E10 be rolled out by suppliers, we will carefully assess the compatibility of the UK vehicle fleet in determining whether to extend the regulatory requirement for E5 to remain available beyond 2016.   This Government　recognises the concerns of owners of some older vehicles that may not be compatible with E10. The Department is in regular contact with suppliers who in turn have been asked to write to us to give at least three months of notice if they were to plan the introduction of this fuel. As yet none have indicated they have any immediate plans to introduce E10.

Airports

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if in his consideration of the proposals put forward in the Davies Report on airport capacity, he will make an assessment of the possibility that flights arriving later in the morning at Heathrow Airport will entail increased noise for people living near their airports of origins; and if he will discuss this possibility with his counterparts in the countries potentially affected.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government will review the Commission’s conclusions on noise mitigation including night noise. The Government would need to consult on options relating to any new night noise regime at Heathrow. Consultation would include representatives of all parties potentially impacted by any proposals to change the current night flying restrictions.

London Airports

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on (a) Belfast City and (b) Belfast International Airport of a new runway at (i) Heathrow and (ii) Gatwick Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion were shortlisted by the Commission for further examination.  The Airports Commission has discussed and consulted on how airports outside the South East might be affected by expansion at the shortlisted expansion options. The relevant documents can be found on the Airports Commission website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commissionThe Commission’s final report was published on 01 July 2015. The Government will not be commenting on the any of the Airports Commission’s recommendations until it has had time to examine all the evidence.

Roads: Construction

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many buried bodies have been moved in each of the last five years from their lawful place of burial to facilitate development of highway work; and what processes highways contractors must follow to move bodies for that purpose.

Andrew Jones: Highways England who is responsible for the strategic road network do not hold the information centrally of how many buried bodes have been removed in the last five years from their lawful place of burial to facilitate the development of highway work and collating it would incur disproportionate cost. For local roads, the Department for Transport does not hold any records as this is a matter for each local highway authority. When dealing with human remains, highway contractors are required to comply with their legal obligations, including provisions through the 1857 Burial Act (as amended) and relevant requirements under ecclesiastical law. Where any remains are located in consecrated ground, the contractor must ensure that permissions to undertake the works are granted under ecclesiastical law through either a Faculty or a Pastoral Scheme. For non-consecrated ground, the contractor must have a licence issued through the Ministry of Justice. Specific requirements or directions issued under any such permission must be adhered to by the contractor, including any measures required by the local Environmental Health Officer or Public Health England for the protection of site workers or the public.　 Prior consultation with the relevant authorities (e.g. church/Diocese, Ministry of Justice) is required prior to application for any permission, including details on the proposed extent and exhumation methodology; treatment of remains and artefacts; and planned reburial of remains.

Transport: North of England

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had on the establishment of Transport for the North with transport unions.

Andrew Jones: Transport for the North (TfN) is a unique body made up of the Northern city regions working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT), Highways England, Network Rail and HS2 Ltd. TfN is currently undertaking a review of its governance to make sure it speaks with one voice for the whole of the North. This will conclude in the autumn and will actively engage with relevant stakeholders. There have been no specific discussions between DfT and the transport unions about the establishment of TfN.

A41: Hendon

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason one lane of the three lane carriageway on the A41 southbound near Hendon is coned off; and for what reasons the work at that location is not being carried out on a 24-hour basis.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Under Devolution, the A41 is the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL). I understand from TfL that one lane is closed at that location due to nearby junction improvements, and that although work is being carried out overnight to avoid disruption during the day, only one phase of the work requires a lane closure on a 24 hour basis. The full package of work is scheduled for completion by mid-August.

Gatwick Airport

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received from business groups in Sussex on increasing the range of destinations available from Gatwick Airport (a) in North America and (b) in the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: My Ministerial colleagues and I regularly receive representations from a range of stakeholders about aviation connectivity.   To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion were shortlisted by the Commission for further examination including one for a new runway at Gatwick airport.The Commission’s final report, published on 01 July 2015, took account of responses to its consultation on the three options which closed in February this year. The Government is now considering the Airports Commissions recommendations and intends to take decisions by the end of the year.

Aviation

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on (a) deregulation, (b) liberalisation and (c) other reform of the global airline industry.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department had with representatives from the International Civil Aviation Organisation on a multilateral agreement to reform global airline regulation; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives from other UN member states on a multilateral agreement to reform global airline regulation; and what the outcome of those discussions was.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The UK’s approach to international air transport focuses on the removal of barriers to market entry and doing business. For example, we seek:-  liberal Air Services Agreements (ASAs) which deliver a wide array of traffic rights, international connectivity and commercial flexibility, and, to remove, or at least minimise, other barriers such as unfair competition, ownership and control restrictions and unnecessary administrative and regulatory burdens.We believe that the liberalisation of international air transport improves connectivity to/from the UK, facilitating business-to-business and people-to-people links that benefit our wider economy, helping to generate jobs and growth. Such liberalisation also maximises business opportunities for UK airlines and airports and competition for the supply of goods and services - delivering cost, choice and quality benefits for UK businesses and consumers.In addition to negotiating bilateral ASAs, my officials are also engaged in multilateral negotiations relating to market access. For example, officials have participated recently in initial, exploratory, dialogues between:-  the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations, and, the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council.These dialogues are considering the potential for closer cooperation in the field of international air transport. In both cases, the dialogue is at an early stage, focussing on building mutual understanding, and no firm conclusions about the way forward have been drawn to date.   My officials are also engaged in the work of ICAO’s Air Transport Regulation Panel which, amongst other things, is tasked to develop a multilateral agreement to help facilitate the liberalisation of international air transport. This work is ongoing and, to date, a draft of such an agreement has not been finalised.

Railways: Elstree

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of the proposed works to the Elstree Tunnels on commuter rail services.

Claire Perry: This work is part of Network Rail’s renewals programme. Renewals works are an operational matter for Network Rail and my Department does not make any assessment of their local impacts.

Gatwick Airport

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that transport connections to Gatwick Airport remain fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: This Government recognises the importance of good transport connections to the success of airports and we are committed to further investment to improve such connections.   For Gatwick Airport, our Road Investment Strategy includes committed investment to deliver a major smart motorway project on the M23 between junctions 8 and 10, as well as improvements to the M25, and major enhancements to the A27 at Chichester, Arundel and Worthing.   Investment of on our rail network will see improvements to connectivity to Gatwick through the completion of the Thameslink Programme, improvements to Gatwick Airport Station and enhancement to the Brighton Mainline.   In addition, from December 2015, new rolling stock will be introduced on the Gatwick Express. The new stock will be designed specifically with the needs of airport users in mind.

Gatwick Airport

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the rate of growth of air traffic at Gatwick Airport in the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The last Department for Transport forecasts for Gatwick and the other main UK airports were published in January 2013. These showed that air passengers at Gatwick would grow by 11% in the period 2015 to 2025. This is a 1% annual rate of growth.   The independent Airports Commission published their own forecasts for air traffic, including at Gatwick, as part of their Final Report on 1 July 2015. The Government will not be commenting on any of the Airports Commission’s recommendations until it has had time to examine all of the evidence.

Railways: South East

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the operation of Class 313 trains on Southern services from Hove Station to West Coastway destinations on passenger satisfaction levels.

Claire Perry: No assessment has been made of the effect of the operation of Class 313 trains on Southern services from Hove Station to West Coastway destinations on passenger satisfaction levels. However Transport Focus, who consult more than 50,000 passengers a year to produce the National Rail Passenger Survey, provide a network-wide picture of passengers' satisfaction with rail travel.The latest figures, from the Spring 2015 survey (http://data.transportfocus.org.uk/train/nps/question/service-overall/) show that 76% of passengers were satisfied with their journey on Southern’s Sussex Coast route, which incorporates the West Coastway services.

Railways: South East

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints his Department has received from customers about the lack of toilet facilities on Class 313 trains that run services between Hove and West Coastway stations since their introduction in 2010.

Claire Perry: We are aware of two complaints from Southern’s customers, and two letters from honourable Members, about the lack of toilet facilities on Class 313 trains that run services between Hove and West Coastway stations since their introduction in 2010.

Railways: South East

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Class 313 trains in operation on Southern's West Coastway services will be replaced with newer rolling stock.

Claire Perry: The rolling stock operated by individual train operators is a detailed operational matter for them. They must decide what rolling stock is deployed on particular routes and services. Govia Thameslink Railway, the operator of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise into which Southern services merge on 26 July 2015, has included no plans to replace this fleet on the West Coastway.

Railways: Yorkshire and the Humber

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on employment in Yorkshire of the electrification of the Leeds-Harrogate-York railway line.

Andrew Jones: The North of England Electrification Task Force took account of the estimated wider economic benefits of electrification in drawing up its recommendations on the priorities for future electrification of lines in the North of England, published in March 2015. Network Rail is taking these recommendations into account in assessing the case for further electrification of the national rail network, including the Leeds-Harrogate-York line. It plans to publish a draft update to the industry electrification strategy in due course.

Leeds-Bradford Airport

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Leeds-Bradford Airport of a new runway at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion were shortlisted by the Commission for further examination.The Airports Commission has discussed and consulted on how airports outside the South East might be affected by expansion at the shortlisted expansion options. The relevant documents can be found on the Airports Commission website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commissionThe Commission’s final report was published on 01 July 2015. The Government will not be commenting on the any of the Airports Commission’s recommendations until it has had time to examine all the evidence.

Cycling: Capital Investment

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on preparing the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy for England.

Mr Robert Goodwill: On 25 June I announced that officials had been instructed to begin work on the secondary legislation required to commence the relevant section of the Infrastructure Act. The Government then intends to announce a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy as soon as is practicable, once all activities deemed necessary have been undertaken.

M20: Large Goods Vehicles

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to end Operation Stack; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of that operation on the UK balance of trade.

Andrew Jones: Operation Stack is the appropriate contingency arrangement to put in place when there is disruption to cross-channel traffic and is led by the Kent Police. It remains a last, not first, resort. The Department has not made any assessment of the effect of Operation Stack on the UK balance of trade, as any impact stems from the disruption to services – which this Government is determined to see resolved as soon as possible.  European Gateway Group is reviewing short and longer term solutions to traffic management in Kent, including Operation Stack, and will report back to the Department. When this review is completed the Department will analyse their findings and decide how to respond to their recommendations.

M20: Large Goods Vehicles

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the effects of Operation Stack on motorists in Kent.

Andrew Jones: Operation Stack is led by Kent police, with the support of all other emergency services, Highways England, Kent County Council, and many other key partners. Steps taken to mitigate the latest Calais disruption include:  Providing additional resources to monitor the strategic and local network and to keep the agreed diversion routes clear. Agreed joint communications to inform customers of the current situation, including communications to keep freight on the M20 and within the Operation Stack phases. Identified, designed and implemented additional phases to Operation Stack as the situation has continued. Provided additional traffic management in Kent at roundabouts. Review and enhance the　current Signs and Signal Policy relating to Operation Stack. Kent County Council staff have been issuing bottles of water and food.The Government is looking to all parties, including Eurotunnel and Port of Dover, Kent County and Local Councils, Kent Police and the Highways England to play their part in working towards, implementing and then reviewing and managing the various solutions.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Industrial Disputes

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to resolve the industrial dispute at the DVLA.

Andrew Jones: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) remains open to further discussions with the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union. An offer of further talks involving the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) was made to PCS on 16 July. The DVLA would welcome this approach and would like to pursue further dialogue with ACAS support.

Aviation: Safety

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procedures are in place to ensure aircraft maintenance crews are (a) fit to work and (b) not overtired.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what reports he has requested from the Civil Aviation Authority on the recent incident at Heathrow Airport when errors in aircraft maintenance procedures caused an emergency landing.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Civil Aviation Authority has statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of UK airlines. It carries out regular audits and inspection of all UK operators and approved maintenance organisations to ensure they comply with all safety requirements.   The Civil Aviation Authority has worked with British Airways to ensure that the airline has addressed the issues identified by the investigation in to the recent incident at Heathrow Airport. In addition, seminars are being carried out across industry to highlight the lessons learnt from the event.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Ministers in his Department approved or were consulted on the instruction made in late March 2015 that Network Rail should undertake a fuller assessment of its emerging cost estimates.

Claire Perry: At the end of March, my officials commissioned Network Rail, the ORR, and DfT to review the whole CP5 portfolio and provide a robust estimate of costs. Ministers were aware of the need to undertake a fuller assessment.

London Underground

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his contribution in the House of 16 July 2015 in response to the hon. Member for Colne Valley, what restriction will prevent the next operator of the Northern franchise from running refurbished London Underground trains on routes previously served by Pacers.

Andrew Jones: In addition to requiring the withdrawal of the Pacers and a minimum of 120 new carriages, the specification for the future Northern franchise requires a transformation of the Northern train fleet to achieve ambitious targets to improve passenger satisfaction.　 It also requires trains that passengers will perceive as being "thoroughly modern, comfortable and comparable to new or nearly-new rolling stock".　 It is for bidders to propose rolling stock solutions that will achieve these demanding requirements.

Railways

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what average number of pilings per night was achieved by Network Rail's High Output Plant System train during (a) October to December 2014, (b) January to March 2015 and (c) April to June 2015.

Claire Perry: The following information has been provided by Network Rail:   The average number of pilings per shift achieved by Network Rail’s High Output Plant System train during October to December 2014 was 5.0 piles per shift January to March 2015 was 4.6 piles per shift April to 5 June 2015 was 6.8 piles per shift.

Railways: South West

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on establishing a separate Devon and Cornwall rail franchise.

Claire Perry: When the second Great Western Direct Award was announced earlier in the year, we confirmed that the contract allowed for the potential for separate franchised rail services in Devon and Cornwall.   The Department is currently carrying out a high level review of rail franchise geography.　 We would also expect to consult with stakeholders in Devon and Cornwall in the development of any future proposals.

Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Scotland

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the number of journeys by hauliers from Scotland that have been delayed as a result of (a) closures to the Channel Tunnel and (b) ferry delays due to disruptions at Calais in the last three months.

Andrew Jones: The Department does not have a specific estimate of the number of journeys by hauliers from Scotland delayed as a result of closures to the Channel Tunnel and disruption at Calais in the last three months.   Statistics for previous years road freight journeys to and from the UK and the continent have been published, although figures for 2015 are not yet available. In 2014 there were 352,000 journeys made between the UK and the continent by UK registered powered goods vehicles, although not all of these travelled via Dover or Eurotunnel.   17 July was the 15th day of Operation Stack within the past 3 months.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of converting a Class 801 Intercity Express Programme unit to bi-mode diesel operation.

Claire Perry: We have a commercially confidential initial estimate; however no decisions have been taken on the Intercity Express Programme conversion. I am committed to ensuring that the trains enter service as planned.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what internal assessment Network Rail is undertaking of its capacity to deliver major enhancement projects.

Claire Perry: Network Rail has been asked by the Secretary of State to set out its proposals to re-plan its Control Period 5 Enhancements Plan. In developing its response, Network Rail is undertaking a comprehensive review of its capability and that of its industry partners to deliver the enhancement portfolio. This includes a review of the current status of all its major programmes and their readiness to deliver to schedule and cost, an overall review of whole industry critical resources focusing particular on signalling resources, a review of overall network access requirements and its strategy for achieving required planning consents. These factors have been identified as key to the current deliverability challenge Network Rail faces. Network Rail is involving a number of independent expert organisations in contributing to these reviews as well as using independent experts to validate it findings before making recommendations to the Secretary of State.

Walking: Children

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department plans to allocate to achieving its target of 55 per cent of children walking to school; and how his Department arrived at that figure.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Funding decisions will be made at the future Spending Review. In addition, the government intends to produce a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). This Strategy will set out how the government’s ambitions on walking – and cycling – will be achieved. On 25 June, I announced that officials had been instructed to begin work on the secondary legislation required to commence the relevant section of the Infrastructure Act to commit government to the publication of the CWIS, as soon as is practicable, once all activities deemed necessary have been undertaken.

Regional Airports

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department will publish the shortlist of applications for the next round of funding for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department intends to announce the recipients of awards from the next round of funding for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the budget is for the next round of funding for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund; and for how long that funding round will last.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Regional Air Connectivity Fund was announced by the previous Government to support public service obligations (PSOs) and start-up aid. From this fund the Department for Transport has already provided financial support for PSOs between both Dundee - London Stansted and Newquay – London Gatwick. This has ensured that vital connectivity from our regions to the capital has not been lost. The Government will announce shortly how it plans to take forward future use of the fund.

Cycling

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the (a) safety of cyclists and existing regulations on HGVs and (b) Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Secretary of State has frequent discussions both in formal meetings and informally with the Prime Minister on a range of subjects, which may include (a) the safety of cyclists and existing regulations on HGVs and (b) the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

Regional Airports

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of past awards from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund in establishing new routes; and what recent assessment he has made of whether such routes would remain viable if unsubsidised.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Regional Air Connectivity Fund has been used to provide financial support for two public service obligation (PSO) routes. Without this support it was assessed that both Dundee and Newquay airports would have lost their air connectivity to London.   As PSOs can only be used to support routes that are not commercially viable it is not expected that either route will be commercially viable within the period that they are eligible for funding.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Central African Republic: Peace Negotiations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the UK is giving to interfaith peacebuilding and reconciliation initiatives in the Central African Republic.

Grant Shapps: Our priority is to support international efforts to protect CAR’s population from ongoing violence. Addressing religious tensions is part of this.The UK welcomes the work done by the Inter-Religious Platform and non-governmental organisations to defuse the tensions and promote social cohesion at community level. We will continue to work with the EU and UN to support this work.  The UK remains one of the largest humanitarian donors to CAR, providing £51 million through Non Governmental Organisations and international organisations to assist CAR populations and CAR refugees since 2013.

United Arab Emirates: Migrant Workers

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the conditions faced by migrant workers  on construction of the Saadiyat Island project in the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of media and Non-Governmental Organisation reports that raised concerns about the conditions faced by workers on Saadiyat Island. Earlier this year, our Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates visited the purpose-built village in which many of Saadiyat Island workers are accommodated to see living standards.

United Arab Emirates: Females

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the treatment of women by the legal system of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers published a report on the United Arab Emirates in May which noted gender discrimination in the UAE justice system. The report also praised the number of female judges and prosecutors in the UAE. The UK endorses the Special Rapporteur’s recommendations that the UAE should promote women’s equal access to justice and support ever greater participation for women in the legal system.

United Arab Emirates: Politics and Government

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his United Arab Emirates counterpart about the timescale for democratic reform in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: In October the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will hold elections to its parliament, the Federal National Council. These will involve the biggest UAE electorate to date, two-thirds larger than in the last elections in 2011. We welcome the steps taken by the UAE to increase political participation.

United Arab Emirates: Detainees

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations his Department has made to the government of the United Arab Emirates on the unlawful detainment of political activists in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government does not condone unlawful detention of political activists. Our bilateral relationship with the United Arab Emirates allows us to discuss a broad range of issues, including concerns about human rights.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Investment

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons Zimbabwe: Commercial Opportunities, published by the British Embassy in in Harari, in June 2015, did not refer to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Grant Shapps: The focus of the Commercial Opportunities paper was to provide UK companies with information about potential areas for commercial activity and where the British Embassy can assist. The Embassy routinely briefs UK firms on doing business in Zimbabwe, promoting ethical and corporate best practice as well as compliance with relevant legislation.

Business: Human Rights

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he plans to take to encourage UK businesses operating and investing overseas to respect the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Mr David Lidington: The Government is committed to supporting UK business to enable it to meet its responsibility to respect human rights wherever it operates. The UK has been a strong supporter of the UN Guiding Principles and was the first country to publish a national action plan for their implementation. We are currently reviewing this in close consultation with business and civil society. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has issued guidance and training to our commercial and UK Trade and Investment Officers overseas on how to advise and encourage UK businesses to respect human rights.

Burma: Rohingya

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the government of Burma provides education for Rohingya children.

Mr Hugo Swire: The United Kingdom continues to press the government of Burma to take steps to ensure that all communities in Rakhine, including the Rohingya, are able to access basic services like education and healthcare.  In 2014, British funding to Rakhine provided education services to over 4,000 primary school-age children in camps for displaced people through temporary learning spaces, recruited and trained volunteer teachers in Sittwe and Pauktaw townships and renovated three schools in surrounding communities.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the current conflict in Yemen since 7 May 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We remain supportive of the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen following President Hadi’s request for support by ‘all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter Houthi aggression’. We have regular engagement with various interlocutors in the Saudi Arabian government. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) spoke to the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif, on 14 July and to the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Mr Adel Al Jubeir, on 18 July to discuss the humanitarian situation and how best the international community can support the political process. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon), also spoke to the Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on 1 July to discuss Yemen.

Burma: Defence

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on that country's increased spending on its military.

Mr Hugo Swire: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



While I have not discussed the rise in spending on Burmese military with my counterpart specifically, the level of spending on the military in Burma is of concern. The main focus of our engagement with the Burmese military is on their adherence to the core principles of democratic accountability, international law and human rights, and I have raised these issues on numerous occasions, including with the Commander-in-Chief directly in January 2014.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Yemeni counterpart on the current conflict in that country since 7 May 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: I last spoke to President Hadi on 7 July to underline UK support for a Yemeni-led and UN brokered solution to the conflict. Sir Alan Duncan, the UK’s Special Envoy to Yemen, spoke to Vice President Bahah on 10 July. We remain fully committed seeking a political solution to the current crisis in Yemen and supporting efforts towards improving the dire humanitarian situation.

Tristan Da Cunha: Fisheries

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports his Department has received of illegal fishing by foreign vessels in the waters of Tristan da Cunha in the last three years.

Grant Shapps: There have been no confirmed cases of illegal fishing in the past three years in the waters of Tristan da Cunha.

Niger: Borders

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what help his Department is giving to the government of Niger to help them police their borders to ensure their citizens do not cross illegally into Libya.

Grant Shapps: The UK recognises the threat posed by irregular migration in Europe and is committed to working with partners on a comprehensive solution to tackle it. In Niger, the UK is has an active role within the EU civilian training mission (EUCAP Sahel Niger) to deliver capacity building support to the Nigerien security services to strengthen their ability to combat terrorism and organised crime. The UK is also working closely with the EU and European partners to develop a programme of work to provide advice and training to the Nigerien authorities, and to help shape proposals on the establishment of a multi-purpose centre on migration in Niger.EU and African partners will discuss further opportunities for cooperation ahead of the Valletta Summit on migration in November.

China: Falun Gong

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on (a) persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and (b) alleged harvesting of organs from Falun Gong prisoners in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2015 (PQ 6494).

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which teams from which countries is the UK Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative expert team working in partnership with.

Grant Shapps: The UK Team of Experts supports the work of national and international bodies and NGOs in preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict. Each deployment is tailored to local needs and circumstances. Since November 2012 we have carried out 60 deployments to nine conflict-affected countries or countries supporting displaced populations.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the compliance of signatories to the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict with the terms of that declaration.

Grant Shapps: To date, 155 countries have endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Some of these governments made subsequent commitments at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict. Others have reformed their legislation, introduced new army codes or improved their military training. We have not formally assessed each endorsing government’s compliance. But through our Embassies and High Commissions we seek regular updates on their progress in tackling sexual violence including the implementation of relevant commitments.

China: Minority Groups

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policy of the Human Rights Watch report, One passport, two systems, China's restrictions on foreign travel by Tibetans and others; and when he last raised the subject of the treatment of China's religious minorities with the Chinese government.

Mr Hugo Swire: We pay close attention to the human rights situation in China and consult a wide range of reports, including from non-government organisations (NGO's), when considering UK policies. We are concerned by the issues raised in ‘One Passport, Two Systems’ - that ethnic minority populations are experiencing restrictions to their freedom of movement and that the inability to travel abroad for religious festivals is impacting on their right to freedom of religion or belief. We consider freedom of religion or belief to be a fundamental human right and support its protection and promotion around the world, including in China. We also have concerns about the treatment of ethnic minorities in China, particularly in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. We have raised our concerns in detail with the Chinese authorities, including during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in April, and have highlighted the full range of our concerns in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy (www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk). We will continue to raise these concerns as part of our wider relationship with China.

Scottish Government: Visits Abroad

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department has provided to Ministers of the Scottish Government undertaking overseas travel in each year since 2010.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), through its network of posts overseas, supports United Kingdom Ministers from all Departments when they undertake official overseas travel to promote the interests of the entire United Kingdom , including Scotland. The FCO provides support along the same lines to Ministers from all three Devolved Administrations. The nature of that support varies, depending on the nature and objectives of the visit.

Diplomatic Service

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Consular (a) hubs and (b) spokes there are in each region; and what criteria his Department has set for deciding those numbers.

Grant Shapps: We do not operate a hub and spoke network as such. In line with the FCO’s Consular Strategy 2013-2016, we focus resources on those who need us most and are most at risk. We route calls to all our consular posts overseas to three contact centres in Malaga, Hong Kong and Ottawa. Urgent cases, and those that require local support, are passed to posts across eight consular regions.The number and location of our consular posts is based on the number of British nationals travelling and living overseas, and the number and complexity of consular cases. The number of posts in each region is as follows:Eastern Europe & Central North-Eastern Asia 25Europe North 26Europe South 36Latin America 18Middle East, North Africa & South Asia 37North America & Caribbean 23South East Asia Pacific 23Sub-Saharan Africa 37In support of these posts there are 217 Honorary Consuls operating in 86 countries.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the humanitarian situation in Yemen's Saada province and (b) whether British arms and equipment exported to Saudi Arabia have been sued by Saudi-armed forces in Saada province; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are extremely concerned by the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. On 19 June, the Department for International Development announced a further £40 million to the humanitarian response, bringing the UK’s total commitment to £55 million for 2015.We are not participating directly in Saudi Arabian led military operations in Yemen, but we are providing technical support, precision-guided weapons and exchanging information with the Saudi Arabian armed forces through pre-existing arrangements.In addition to the personnel who continue to provide support for equipment supplied, we have a small number of liaison personnel in Saudi Arabia and coalition air and maritime headquarters. This includes personnel in the Maritime Coalition Coordination Centre in the region supporting the delivery of humanitarian aid into Yemen.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the budget was of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and what budget has been allocated for the PSVI in 2015-16.

Grant Shapps: Since 2012/13 the FCO has allocated at least £29 million to PSVI-related work overseas. This includes funding to support work with survivors, contributions to international organisations, training on the International Protocol and deployments of members of the PSVI Team of Experts. We spent approximately £1.3 million in 2012-13, approximately £5 million in 2013-14, and approximately £15 million in 2014-15. So far this financial year we have allocated over £8.2 million to PSVI-related work.

Human Rights

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department's human rights priorities are for the current Parliament.

Mr David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to which countries the UK Prevention Sexual Violence Initiative experts were deployed in 2014-15; and to which countries that team will be deployed in 2015-16.

Grant Shapps: The UK Team of Experts supports the work of national and international bodies and NGOs in preventing and responding to sexual violence in conflict. Each deployment is tailored to local needs and circumstances. Since November 2012 we have carried out 60 deployments to nine conflict affected countries or countries supporting displaced populations. In 2014-15 experts from the team deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Mali and Turkey. Our current plans for 2015-16 include deployments to Mali, the Syrian borders, the DRC and Iraq.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Land

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department plans to support the development of land registries in developing countries.

Grant Shapps: The Department for International Development (DFID) targets improvements in overall land governance to support economic development and poverty reduction. DFID funded programmes over the last 5 years have helped to secure the land and property rights of 5.8 million people in developing countries. Our programmes range from supporting the development of land registries and issuance of land titles (for example in Rwanda and Ethiopia) to addressing land-related conflict (for example in Sudan) and supporting community legal empowerment (as in Kenya or Mozambique). We have recently launched a new global programme, Land-Enhancing Governance for Economic Development (LEGEND), which is providing expert advice to our country offices to help design and implement programmes to deliver additional results in this area.

Department for International Development: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if she will make it her policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for her Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Mr Desmond Swayne: This Government is the first government to introduce a compulsory Living Wage.DFID will, as all employers, be required to comply with the new national Living Wage of £7.20/ph for those 25 and above, as set out in the Budget. All direct employees of DFID are paid at a level of at least that recommended by the Living Wage campaign.

Colombia: Overseas Aid

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government has provided aid to the government of Colombia.

Mr Desmond Swayne: During 2013, which is the latest reporting year, UK Government disbursed £7.2 million of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Colombia, £6.6 million was disbursed by the FCO and £0.6 million disbursed by CDC. Additionally, funds disbursed through multilateral agencies were calculated to be £9.1 million.

Yemen: Humanitarian Aid

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what resources her Department plans to allocate to Yemen over the next six months in response to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs' level 3 emergency appeal.

Mr Desmond Swayne: On 19 June, the International Development Secretary announced an additional £40 million for the humanitarian response in Yemen, bringing the total UK contribution to £55 million for 2015-16. In line with the United Nations Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, our support provides lifesaving assistance such as medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter; helps treat severe acute malnutrition; and supports UN work to co-ordinate the humanitarian response.

Developing Countries: Land Use

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of arable land in developing countries which is unused.

Grant Shapps: The Department for International Development (DFID) does not make assessments of this nature. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) provides global figures, and estimates that 1.8 billion ha of land in developing countries could provide significant scope for further expansion of agriculture in those countries.

Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department plans to take as a member of the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to help achieve that organisation's aim of ending epidemics of those diseases in developing that Fund's new strategy.

Grant Shapps: The UK was awarded its own seat on the Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in March 2015 and is an active member of the Strategy, Investment and Impact Committee, which provides technical and strategic advice to the Board. The UK is using its seat on that committee to try to focus the strategy on controlling the three diseases, ending them as epidemics.

HIV Infection: Vaccination

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will reassess her Department's decision to reduce funding for the development of an AIDS vaccine.

Grant Shapps: DFID is strongly committed to tackling HIV through the appropriate vehicles but has no plans to reassess funding levels for the development of an AIDS vaccine. In the last 2-3 years there have been some promising and significant scientific advances, but an effective vaccine is still many years away and the science has now moved back to the laboratory. DFID’s comparative advantage does not lie in supporting basic science. The recent award to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative recognises that other agencies, supporting basic scientific research, are better placed to provide support in this area.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what cross-departmental work her Department is engaged in to increase the retention of trained medical staff from low income countries in those countries' health systems.

Grant Shapps: DFID funds the Health Partnership Scheme, which uses the skills of UK health professionals to train, mentor, and coach their developing country counterparts in their home countries. Over 25,000 health workers have received training and education through this scheme. As a complementary measure, the UK has also signed the World Health Organisation Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel and the Department of Health implements it through the UK Code of Practice for international recruitment. The UK Code specifies a list of developing countries that should not be targeted for international recruitment under any circumstances.

Infectious Diseases

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the press notice from the Prime Minister's Office dated 7 June 2015, announcing a global programme of drug development and research into infectious diseases, what the contents and timing of that programme will be; and what steps her Department plans to take to ensure the success of that programme.

Grant Shapps: The Manifesto commitment was made to respond to the urgent need for research to develop new health products for infectious diseases. There is insufficient funding globally available for the development of new drugs and vaccines for neglected diseases and resistance to essential drugs is a growing problem globally. DFID is currently working on a strategy to deliver on this commitment.  The UK Government has a strong track record of supporting successful product development research, through public-private Product Development Partnerships (PDPs). In the last ten years, DFID-supported PDPs have developed 11 new drugs, 2 new vaccines and 6 new diagnostic tests. Success is judged not only by cost-effective development of the products but also by ensuring that they are affordable and made available to the poorest in low and middle income countries.

Africa: Debts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the level and sustainability of public and private debt in emerging African economies.

Grant Shapps: There has been a marked improvement in the debt position of many African countries over the last 15 years as a result of the Highly Impoverished Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), both of which were established following strong UK leadership. Many countries have borrowed prudently over recent years and do not raise concerns about debt sustainability. But some countries’ debt levels are rising at an unsustainable rate.  I welcome the recent change in the IMF’s debt limit policy to take account of all public external debt in its setting of debt limits for countries which are at risk of unsustainable debt. I also welcome the review of the way the IMF analyses debt sustainability for consideration by the IMF Board early next year. In addition to this, recent discussions at the Paris Forum, G20 and at the third Conference on Financing for Development (FFD) in Addis Ababa are important in recognising the vital role of both lenders and borrowers acting responsibly to promote debt sustainability.

Females: Crimes of Violence

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government plans to support the target on ending violence against women and girls at the UN General Assembly in September 2015.

Justine Greening: The UK Government has played a leading role in pressing for the standalone gender goal included within the UN Open Working Group outcome document and the target to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. We will continue to push, at every opportunity, for a strong and explicit commitment to this in the Sustainable Development Goals that will be agreed later this year.

Department for Education

Department for Education: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if she will make it her policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for her Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Nick Gibb: The Department of Education and its executive agencies have no directly employed staff paid below the Living Wage and all agency staff should receive at least the Living Wage by the end of August 2015.   The department’s Head of Property has been commissioned to review how the Living Wage can be paid to sub-contracted support staff by the end of the calendar year, at which point we will consider whether or not to pursue accreditation.   This government is the first government to introduce a compulsory Living Wage. All employers will be required to comply with the new National Living Wage of £7.20 per hour for those 25 and above, as set out in the Budget.

Department for Education: Trade Unions

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what meetings her Department has had with trades unions in the last 12 months.

Nick Gibb: Ministers and officials regularly engage with trade unions on a range of issues. Such meetings over the past 12 months have included individual discussions with ministers and officials, and group discussions. These have included teacher, head teacher, and support staff unions, as well as other education employer groups and unions representing departmental staff. Since the start of this Parliament, the Secretary of State has met the General Secretaries of all the main teaching unions.

Primary Education: Standards

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of primary schools in (a) Bristol South constituency, (b) Bristol and (c) England received a mark of good or outstanding according to their most recent inspections.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Languages: Qualifications

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2015 to Question 842, what the timescale is, and what methodology is being used for, the consultation on the future of modern languages teaching.

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2015 to Question 842, with which organisations she has met in connection with ensuring that awarding organisations are liaising effectively with Ofqual; and what further steps her Department has taken to safeguard the future of modern languages at GCSE and A-level in subjects (a) Turkish, (b) Greek, (c) Gujarati, (d) Modern Hebrew, (e) Panjabi, (f) Polish, (g) Bengali and (h) other community languages.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is in discussion with awarding organisations and Ofqual to consider how best to enable as wide a range of languages as possible to be maintained at GCSE and A level, including those languages listed in the question. We are committed to securing the future of community language qualifications. I will make a further announcement in due course, explaining our proposed approach.   The Secretary of State and I have held meetings with diplomats and officials who have made representations to the department.

Education: Fraud

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to eliminate cheating by students and teachers in GCSE and A-level coursework and controlled assessments.

Nick Gibb: Eliminating cheating by students and teachers in GCSE and A level coursework and controlled assessments is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the hon. Member on this issue. A copy of her response will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Poverty and Life Chances Review

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken in response to the recommendations of the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances, published in 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah: This government wants to see every child fulfilling their potential and succeeding in life.   The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions recently announced that this government will focus on improving life chances by tackling the root causes of child poverty. It believes that action to ensure that parents can work and to improve educational attainment across the board will make the biggest difference to the lives of children, now and in the future. The Welfare Reform and Work Bill, introduced to Parliament on 9 July, includes a new statutory duty for government to report on these two key drivers of children’s life chances.   The government agrees with the view set out in the Independent Review that what happens before children start school is crucial in their development and later attainment. The Effective Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education Project has shown a child has a greater chance of getting better exam results, and ultimately earning higher wages, by receiving pre-school education. That is why in 2010, the government extended the number of hours of free early education to which all three- and four-year-olds are entitled from 12.5 to 15 hours a week.   Since September 2013, the most disadvantaged two-year-olds across England have been able to access their 15-hour-a-week funded early learning place a year early. The Government has also introduced additional funding to support disadvantaged three and four year olds in early years settings through the Early Years Pupil Premium. This has been designed to close the gap at ages 3 and 4 between the additional support disadvantaged children get at age 2 through the free entitlement and the additional support they get in school through the school-age Pupil Premium. At the Budget, the Government reconfirmed its manifesto commitment to help hard-working families reduce the cost of childcare which will make it easier for parents to work if they would like to, knowing that their children are well cared for. The Government will set out more information about improving the life chances of children in a Life Chances Strategy in due course.

Pupils: Bullying

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has provided to further education and sixth form colleges since 2010 to support them in tackling homophobic and transphobic bullying.

Edward Timpson: The Department for Education does not allocate monies to further education and sixth form colleges specifically to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying. Institutions are expected to manage these issues as part of their duty of care to their students. They may use a portion of their revenue funding to do so as they see fit. However, the Department funds a range of other activities and initiatives, such as changes to teacher training, to confront this issue.The Government has awarded £2million to eight charities in 2015/16 to provide specialist support and training for thousands of teachers to combat homophobic, transphobic and biphobic (HBT) bullying in primary and secondary schools. This is on top of £1.3 million given to various anti-bullying charities to combat all forms of bullying in schools. The Department also provided £4 million to charities to tackle bullying in schools in 2013-15.

Basic Skills: Curriculum

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that parenting and life skills are reflected in the national curriculum from primary school to GCSE level.

Edward Timpson: Schools can choose to teach parenting skills in their PSHE lessons. The non-statutory programme of study for PSHE education enables schools to teach young people about the roles and responsibilities of parents and the value of family relationships including the impact of separation, divorce and bereavement.The national curriculum also makes financial literacy statutory for the first time, as part of the curriculum for citizenship education for 11 to 16 year olds. Pupils will be taught the functions and uses of money, the importance of personal budgeting, money management and the need to understand financial risk.At primary, schools are required to teach about healthy eating, where food comes from and to prepare and cook a range of dishes. At secondary, for the first time, cooking is compulsory at key stage 3: teachers will cover nutrition, diet and where food comes from. Children will also learn how to feed themselves and others affordably and well, and learn where food comes from.

Children's Centres

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many hours Sure Start centres were open to the public in each local authority area in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many full-time staff were employed in Sure Start centres in each local authority area in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The department does not hold centrally the information requested.   Sure Start Children’s Centres Statutory Guidance states that local authorities should ensure their network of children’s centres is accessible to all families with young children in their area and that opening times and availability of services meets the needs of families in their area. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sure-start-childrens-centres   There is a strong network of children’s centres, with 2,677 main children’s centres open, along with 705 additional sites. Most recent data shows a record number of families, more than 1 million, are using children’s centres and that centres are successfully reaching out to 90% of eligible families registered.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the Ofsted report, Children looked after placements by English authorities, published on 14 July 2015, how many of the 29 Chinese children who were missing from care on 31 March 2014 had gone missing from (a) foster care, (b) children's homes, (c) independent living, (d) secure units, young offenders' institutions or prisons and (e) residential schools.

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the Ofsted report, Children looked after placements by English authorities, published on 14 July 2015, in the care of which local authorities were the 33 children missing for six months or longer on 31 March 2014.

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the Ofsted report, Children looked after placements by English authorities, published on 14 July 2015, how many of the 33 children missing for six months or longer on 31 March 2014 were (a) male and (b) female; and how many such children were (i) under 10, (ii) aged between 10 and 12, (iii) aged between 13 and 15 and (iv) aged between 16 and 18 years old when they went missing.

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the Ofsted report, Children looked after placements by English authorities, published on 14 July 2015, how many of the 29 Chinese children who were missing from care on 31 March 2014 had been missing for (a) less than six months, (b) between six months and one year and (c) more than one year.

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 23 of the Ofsted report, Children looked after placements by English authorities, published on 14 July 2015, how many of the 33 children were missing from (a) foster care, (b) children's homes, (c) independent living, (d) secure units, young offenders' institutions or prisons and (e) residential schools.

Edward Timpson: This is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the Hon Member with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.

Schools: ICT

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has spent on (a) tablet computers and (b) other new information technology for students in schools in (i) 2012-13 and (ii) 2013-14.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Department for Education does not provide schools with dedicated funds for information technology. We are therefore unable to advise on the volume or type of equipment that has been purchased. Headteachers manage their own budgets, prioritise spend and are best placed to decide on local requirements.

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in care have been placed in children's homes outside their local authority area in each of the last five years.

Edward Timpson: The number of children who have been placed in children’s homes outside their local authority area in each of the last five years, 2010 to 2014, is shown in the table below:   YearNumber of children accommodated in children homes outside council boundary at 31 March20102,40020112,35020122,39020132,54020142,730   This information is published in table A3 of the statistical first release “Children looked after in England including adoption”, which is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2

Children in Care

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to reduce the number of children in care placed out of their home local authority area.

Edward Timpson: Looked-after children should only be placed far from home where this is in their best interests. To improve practice in this area the Government has amended regulations so that:the Director of Children’s Services must approve that the decision to place a child at a distance from their home is the best decision for the child and that there will be ongoing support for them;the local authority making the placement must consult with the authority in which the home is located before making the decision to place the child there. This consultation should include the quality of the home and the services available for the child.

Pre-school Education: Inspections

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to make Ofsted inspections of (a) children's centres and (b) other early years settings as rigorous as inspection of primary and secondary schools.

Mr Sam Gyimah: From September 2015, childcare provision in Sure Start children’s centres and early years settings will be inspected on the same basis as primary and secondary schools under Ofsted’s new Common Inspection Framework. For the first time the full range of education settings will be inspected to a common set of rigorous standards, giving parents better information on quality. Details of the Common Inspection Framework are available on the Ofsted website at the following address:https://www.gov.uk/changes-to-education-inspection-from-september-2015 We will be consulting in the autumn on wider children’s centre services and working with Ofsted on the most appropriate accountability regime for them.

Free School Meals

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils were eligible for free school meals in secondary schools in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The table below shows the numbers and percentages of state-funded secondary school pupils in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and England who were eligible for free school meals from 2011-2015:   Ashfield Constituency Nottinghamshire EnglandYear Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils2011 98815.2 5,90511.6 476,22014.62012 1,05616.6 6,01812.1 478,98514.82013 1,08317.5 6,01012.4 486,26015.12014 1,04817.3 5,73712.1 464,85014.62015 1,06217.6 5,49711.7 442,34113.9 Source: School Census1. Includes middle/all through schools as deemed.2. Includes all full-time and part-time pupils who are sole or dual main registrations.

Higher Education: Admissions

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals in (a) Ashfield constituency, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England subsequently attended a Russell Group university in each of the last five years.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England subsequently attended a university in each of the last five years.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England progressed to a Russell Group university in each of the last five years.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England progressed to university in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Destination measures have been published for four years and show the proportion of pupils completing key stage 5 who have sustained[1] destinations at higher education institutions including Russell group universities. The latest data available are for students entering a destination in 2012/13. Destination measures data are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations   Destination measures data at Parliamentary constituency level were not published in the first year. Destinations data for pupils eligible for free school meals are published at national and Local Authority level but not for Parliamentary constituencies.  [1] Defined as October to March in the destination year.

Children's Centres

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Sure Start children's centres closed in each of the last three years in (a) England and (b) Copeland constituency.

Mr Sam Gyimah: As at 30 June 2015, 214 main children’s centres had closed since the beginning of 2013 following local authority consultation on the needs of local families. The department collects data at local authority level rather than by constituency. Cumbria local authority has not closed any of its children's centres. The numbers of closed children’s centres are given by year in the tables (a) and (b) below:  a. Closures in England by year: 201320142015[1]328399 b. Closures in Cumbria LA by year: 201320142015[1]000   There is a strong network of children’s centres. 2,677 main children’s centres remain open, along with 705 additional sites. Most recent data shows a record number of families are using children’s centres and that centres are successfully reaching out to 90% of eligible families registered.[1] As at 30 June 2015.

Free School Meals

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of pupils were eligible for free school meals in primary and infant schools in (a) Ashfield, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The table below shows the numbers and percentages of pupils in state-funded nursery and primary schools in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire and England who were eligible for free school meals from 2011-2015:   Ashfield Constituency Nottinghamshire EnglandYear Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils Number of PupilsPercentage of Pupils2011 1,69020.2 8,88314.1 751,02518.02012 1,80321.4 9,59415.1 769,81018.12013 1,86021.4 9,73415.0 785,53518.12014 1,80620.2 9,50014.2 755,48517.02015 1,70618.7 8,73312.8 708,79815.6 Source: School census Includes all full-time and part-time pupils who are sole or dual main registrationsIncludes middle/all through schools as deemed.

Mathematics and Physics: Teachers

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure high standards of teaching in maths and physics.

Nick Gibb: Our reforms to the curriculum and qualifications are raising standards in mathematics and science. In March 2015 the Prime Minister announced £67m of funding to train an additional 2,500 science and maths teachers and provide subject knowledge enhancement courses for a further 15,000 teachers over the next five years.   Our network of 34 Maths Hubs is helping to improve mathematics teaching through exchanges with Shanghai and the use of high-quality textbooks. The National Science Learning Network and the Stimulating Physics Network are providing high quality training to teachers.

Teachers

Wendy Morton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support recruitment and retention of high quality teachers.

Nick Gibb: We have increased scholarships and bursaries to attract top graduates in priority subjects; supported the growth of Teach First and enabled schools to reward their best teachers in line with their performance. We announced a £67m package to recruit an additional 2,500 mathematics and physics teachers and improve the knowledge and skills of 15,000 existing teachers. For 2016/17, we have given greater freedom to initial teacher training providers to recruit the trainees they need within recruitment controls set by the National College of Teaching and Leadership.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of broadband speed and coverage on local economies.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Superfast broadband is now available to over 80% of UK homes and businesses, up from 45% in 2010. The UK Broadband Impact Study - Impact Report estimated that the availability and take-up of faster broadband speeds through programmes that had been delivered or were in the delivery phase at that time will add about £17 billion to the UK’s annual Gross Value Added (GVA) by 2024. This level of uplift contributes an average of 0.07 percentage points to real annual GVA growth over this period. It also demonstrated that the benefits will be shared across the UK, helping the rebalancing of our economy.

Music: Finance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications were received by the Arts Council for funding for (a) opera and (b) brass bands in each of the last three years; and what proportion of such applications was successful.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The figures in the tables represent total numbers of applications classified in part, or mainly focused, on Brass or Opera in the years since 2012/13, including the 2015/16 year to date.  Brass and silver bands   Decision Year2012/20132013/20142014/20152015/2016 YTDTOTAL 12/13 - 15/16 YTDTotal Applications23354621125Offers Made81516645Total Unsuccessful1520301580Success Rate35%43%35%29%36%Opera/ musical theatre   Decision Year2012/20132013/20142014/20152015/2016 YTDTOTAL 12/13 - 15/16 YTDTotal Applications8312118359446Offers Made32466918165Total Unsuccessful517511441281Success Rate39%38%38%31%37% Opera is contained in those applications for musical theatre, which is defined as a genre of drama in which singing and dancing play an essential part.

Broadband: East Sussex

Maria Caulfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the roll-out of rural broadband to be completed in East Sussex; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The East Sussex project aims to provide superfast broadband coverage to nearly 61,000 homes and businesses in the county. As of 31 March 2015, 31,205 premises had access to superfast broadband as a result of the project. The project is expected to be completed by 2017, with over 96% of premises expected to have access to superfast broadband.

Sports: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of children in (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria participated in at least one hour of sport per week in each of the last five years.

Tracey Crouch: Government does not hold the information requested. The Taking Part Survey, which measures child participation in sport, does not publish local level or weekly data. Government is committed to ensuring that everyone - including children - has the opportunity to regularly participate in sport. Sport England actively supports this aim, with over £1 billion of investment in the youth and community strategy over 5 years. Further, the School Games programme, which provides opportunities for competitive sport in schools has been a great success, with more than 19,000 schools now signed up. The Games aim to give every schoolchild, no matter their ability or disability, their chance to participate and offers inter-school, county festivals and national finals competition. We are also investing over £450 million of ring fenced funding for the PE and Sport Primary premium for all primary schools for the three academic years from 2013 to 2016 - which enables them to provide high quality PE. Interim findings of independent research of the Primary PE and sport premium show that it is having a positive impact on PE and school sport. Since the funding was introduced, time spent on curricular PE at primary level has increased by 13 minutes from 109 to 122 minutes.

Mobile Phones

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of premises covered by (a) 2G voice and low data rate mobile coverage, (b) 3G high-speed data mobile coverage and (c) 4G very high-speed data mobile coverage in each local authority area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Ofcom’s Infrastructure Report 2014 states that outdoor premises coverage from at least one mobile network operator is provided to 99.7% of premises for 2G, 99% for 3G and 72% for 4G. A breakdown of these figures at local authority level is available on Ofcom's website at: http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/infrastructure/2014/Mobile_local_authority.csv

Arts Council England: Staff

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of Arts Council staff are (a) male, (b) female, (c) white, (d) from an ethnic minority background, (e) disabled and (f) non-disabled.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The information requested is set out in the table:  HeadcountPercentageMale17335.7%Female31164.3%White41786.2%Other6713.8%Disabled163.3%Other46896.7% The ethnicity headings for those who classified themselves as either British white, Irish or other white background are included in the figures for ‘White’, everyone else is therefore deemed to be from an ethnic minority background. For 15 employees, some declined to answer or no information was available, and as such, this data is included under the 'Other' heading. Similarly, for the Disabled heading, 47 employees declined to answer and so are included as non-disabled.

Broadband

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether any of the funding for rollout of superfast broadband top sliced from the television licence fee has been retained for phase 3 of the rollout programme.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Decisions on any investment in the rollout of superfast broadband beyond 95% will be taken as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Mobile Phones: Scotland

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State  for Scotland and (b) Ministers in the Scottish Government on the provision of 4G mobile telephone coverage in Scotland.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I met with John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Government on 8 June 2015. 4G mobile coverage was not discussed at that meeting. The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy has met with the Secretary of State for Scotland and discussed options of mobile coverage including indoor 4G coverage to 98% of all premises by the end of 2017.

Remembrance Day

Mr Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to include representations from the Polish forces and other countries at the 2015 Remembrance Day ceremony at the Cenotaph; and if he will make a statement.

Tracey Crouch: Tradition and precedents sets out that Remembrance Sunday commemorates the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. There are no plans to change the current representation.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Crops: Pests

Mrs Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the trends in numbers of cabbage stem flea beetle in the UK since December 2013.

George Eustice: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 17 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

Defra has not undertaken any assessment of the trends in numbers of cabbage stem flea beetle in the UK. However, we are aware that the AHDB and others have recently carried out work to look at levels of infestation and at the consequences for growers. published an assessment on this area in 2014.

George Eustice: Defra has not undertaken any assessment of the trends in numbers of cabbage stem flea beetle in the UK. However, we are aware that the AHDB and others have recently carried out work to look at levels of infestation and at the consequences for growers. published an assessment on this area in 2014.

Recycling

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of (a) the EU and (b) each of its member states on promotion of recycling.

Rory Stewart: I discussed the circular economy with ministerial colleagues during the EU Environment Council meeting in Luxembourg. We will continue to have regular discussions on the circular economy as policy in this area develops.

Food: Recycling

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage the recycling of food waste in schools and hospitals.

Rory Stewart: The Government encourages Departments to include contract terms that result in reduction of food waste and in diversion of food waste from landfill, both when tendering contracts and during contract management. Central government procurers directly or through their catering contractors are required to apply the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering (GBS), which include minimum mandatory standards for inclusion in tender specifications and contract performance conditions, including the prevention and management of food waste. Tenders which go beyond these minimum standards and meet award criteria will score more highly when competing for contracts. Since March, hospitals are now also required to meet the GBS, via the NHS Standard Contract.   In addition, both the Department of Health and the Department for Education are signed up as supporters of the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement (HAFSA), a voluntary agreement with the hospitality and food service sector, managed by WRAP. HAFSA has targets for signatories to prevent food waste and recycle food and packaging. WRAP is also working directly with the Hospital Caterers Association, to promote food waste prevention and management within hospitals.

Landfill

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to reduce the amount of waste that goes in to landfill.

Rory Stewart: Delivering a more resource efficient, sustainable and circular economy is essential if we are to continue to maximise the opportunities for economic and environmental growth and protect human health. We want to make the best use of materials and resources, keeping them in circulation by maximising the lifetime and value of our products, improving resource productivity and preventing and dealing with waste and recycling properly. This includes moving away from landfill to more environmental beneficial and higher value uses. Landfill tax is the main driver in diverting residual waste from landfill and is currently £82.60 per tonne. Defra is also investing £3 billion in a number of Local Authority projects through Waste Infrastructure Credits. This is contributing towards the reduction of waste sent to landfill, promoting renewable energy, recycling and stimulating growth.

Landfill

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of waste disposed in landfill sites in each of the last five years.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many square kilometres of landfill there were in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: The latest data were published in 2013 with trends data back to 1999. Inputs to landfill in England from 2009-2013 (in 000s tonnes) were: 2013 41,068 2012 41,797 2011 44,699 2010 43,563 2009 43,964   This information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/waste-management-for-england-2013. Neither Defra nor the Environment Agency hold data on square kilometres of landfill in the UK, England and Yorkshire of the last five years.

Recycling

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what new incentives she is offering to promote the circular economy and reduce waste.

Rory Stewart: It is essential that we make the best use of materials and resources, prevent and deal with waste and recycle properly. This makes both good business and environmental sense and there is a growing industry that can unlock that value of these resources for the UK economy. Keeping material resources in circulation is a key component to this and the Government supports moving towards a more circular economy.   The European Commission is currently working on a package of proposals to promote the Circular Economy and we have taken the opportunity to send ideas for measures that could be included in those proposals. Copies of the papers we submitted to the Commission Services will be placed in the House Library.  The Commission will publish its proposals before the end of 2015. These will include two elements: amendments to existing waste legislation, and a Communication with a plan of actions to promote the circular economy across the EU over the next 5 years.

Neonicotinoids

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department (a) has submitted and (b) plans to submit data to the European Food Safety Authority's investigation into the consequences of the European Commission's restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids.

George Eustice: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is not investigating the consequences of the European Commission restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids. The European Commission has undertaken to carry out a review of the scientific evidence on the effects of neonicotinoids on bees. This review has now started. EFSA has accepted a mandate from the Commission and has invited any party to submit relevant data by 30 September 2015. Companies have also provided further studies and are carrying out a large-scale field trial.   Once the data have been collected, EFSA will produce an assessment of the risks to bees from the use of neonicotinoids as seed treatments and granules. The Commission will then decide whether to propose changes to the current restrictions on neonicotinoids. The UK will contribute to this process and will be guided by the evidence. Completed Defra-funded research is already published and is therefore available to the review.

Seals: Scotland

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Scottish Government on seal (a) culls and (b) conservation; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dudley North, Ian Austin, on 24 June 2015, PQ UIN 3275.

Insects

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support pollinators on farmland.

George Eustice: £900 million has been made available for the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, which includes a dedicated Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife package. This has been developed by Natural England working in close partnership with wildlife organisations, the farming community and national pollinator scientists. The package is based on the best available evidence and builds on lessons learned from predecessor agri-environment schemes.   The National Pollinator Strategy was launched in November 2014, setting out the Government’s commitment to playing a leading role in improving the status of the country’s 1,500 or so pollinating insect species, and contains specific actions to support pollinators on farmland, as well as towns, cities and the countryside. Countryside Stewardship will play a key role in supporting the Strategy.

Food: Waste

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her foreign counterparts on strategies to tackle food wastage.

Rory Stewart: We have had no formal discussions on these matters to date, but they are likely to take place later this year when we expect to see the European Commission’s proposals on the EU circular economy, which are likely to contain food waste provisions. Before then, we shall be responding to the European Commission’s consultations on the circular economy, which will influence these proposals.   Defra officials are also engaged in discussions in various international fora e.g. an EU specific technical working group on food losses and waste, and G20 discussions on how to improve food security as well as reduce food losses and waste globally.

Rural Areas: Innovation

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase innovation in the rural economy; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: We want to unleash the potential of the countryside. Innovation is an important part of this.   Boosting productivity across the food chain will be a key part of the 25 year plan for food and farming. The £4.5m Sustainable Intensification Platform aims to take world class research from our universities to improve the productivity of our farmers. The £5m European Innovation Partnership under the Rural Development Programme will fund projects that link research, farming and forestry practices to encourage innovation. The Government is also investing £160m through the UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies to take innovation from the research laboratory to the farm.

Ash Dieback Disease

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of options for controlling ash dieback other than through the destruction of saplings; and if she will take steps to support research into new means of controlling outbreaks of devastating diseases in plants and animals.

George Eustice: Defra has taken a number of steps in response to the outbreak of ash dieback including supporting measures to slow the spread. An associated programme of research has assessed different management options, including identification and development of resistant ash trees and chemical treatments. Further information is provided in the Tree Health Management Plan[1] published in April 2014. This document sets out key commitments on tree pests and pathogens as well as how the Government is working with others to manage these.  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tree-health-management-plan

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that the welfare of non-wild animals in circuses is protected and licensed; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The welfare of domesticated animals in circuses is protected by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Performing Animals (Regulation) Act 1925. We have no plans to bring forward a licensing scheme for domesticated animals in circuses.

Waste Disposal: Rural Areas

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the incidence of waste dumped illegally in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: Fly-tipping is blight on both rural and urban areas, and can cause pollution and harm to public health and wildlife. It undermines legitimate waste businesses where unscrupulous operators undercut those that operate within the law and is a drain on Local Authorities that clear it up.   Tackling fly-tipping is a priority for the Government. We announced in our manifesto that we will be giving councils the power to issue fixed penalty notices for small-scale fly-tipping as well as reviewing the existing fixed penalty notices for littering. These steps will build on other Government action, which include:   a) cracking down on offenders by working with the Sentencing Council on its guideline for sentencing for environmental offences, which came into force on 1 July last year;   b) making it easier for vehicles suspected of being involved in waste crime to be stopped, searched and seized; and   c) working in partnership with others through the Defra chaired National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG) to prevent and tackle illegal dumping. The NFTPG includes representatives from central and local Government, enforcement authorities, the waste industry, private landowners and the National Rural Crime Network. The NFTPG has published a Fly-tipping Partnership Framework outlining best practice for the prevention, reporting, investigation and clearance of fly-tipping to be adapted to suit local circumstances.

Wild Boar

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the level of the wild boar population is controlled.

Rory Stewart: The Government and its partner organisations, such as the Deer Initiative, facilitate boar management by providing advice and guidance. The responsibility for carrying out the management of wild boar, as with other wildlife, lies with local communities and individual landowners and managers.

Birds: Rural Areas

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the number of small songbirds in rural areas; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart: Songbird data extracted from published Defra wild bird indicators provide an index of change for farmland, woodland and wetland songbirds. These groups have shown a decline in relative abundance over time however, these declines need to be interpreted carefully because data before 1995 is less reliable.   For farmland and wetland songbirds the index shows a substantial decline between the 1970s and the early 1990s. However, since then there has been little or no overall change (although some individual species have continued to decline). For woodland songbirds the index shows a longer period of decline although there has been little overall change in recent years.   A study published in 2012[1] described the first evidence of landscape scale benefits of Environmental Stewardship for farmland birds. The results showed strong correlative evidence for positive effects of management for a number of seed-eating species such as the linnet, reed bunting and yellowhammer.  [1] Baker, D. J., Freeman, S. N., Grice, P. V. and Siriwardena, G. M. (2012), Landscape-scale responses of birds to agri-environment management: a test of the English Environmental Stewardship scheme. Journal of Applied Ecology, 49, 871-882

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses.

George Eustice: A ban on the use of wild animals in travelling circuses is a manifesto commitment and will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows. In the interim, the welfare of the 18 wild animals still being used by travelling circuses in England is protected by the Welfare of Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (England) Regulations 2012

Fisheries

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the discard of fish which can no longer be discarded lawfully at sea on land, and the potential utilisation of such fish; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: One of the most significant changes in the reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is the introduction of a landing obligation which prohibits the discarding of fish.The Government believes that fishermen should be able to maximise the value of all the catch they land. Fish that can go to human consumption routes will be the most profitable. The industry organisation Seafish has led work into why certain fish species are discarded, how they can be brought to market and so drive value for fishermen.Fish that are undersize (below Minimum Conservation Reference Size) can be directed to non-direct human consumption markets such as fish meal, fish oil, bait, pet food, food additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and digestion. We are currently working with different parts of the fishing industry to ensure they can access these markets and to help them find practical solutions to the challenges of managing undersize catch onshore. Information on this will be issued to the industry in the autumn.

Covent Garden Market Authority

Chris Heaton-Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) positions and (b) pay were of the principal officers of the New Covent Garden Market Authority in the last five years; and what consultation process will take place before any pay increases are awarded.

Rory Stewart: The positions of the principal officers of the Covent Garden Market Authority are:   Mrs J Lloyd - Chief Executive Officer Mr C Morton - Finance Director/Authority Secretary Mr B Marlow - Operations Director Mr C Townend - Project Director Ms H Evans - Business development & Support Director   Their annual gross pay in the last 5 years is shown below:2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15Mrs Lloyd198,316172,110227,249191,715222,569Mr Morton154,979147,978164,772151,199166,977Mr Marlow98,471100,543108,600112,218120,361Mr Townendn/an/a89,146117,240127,898Ms Evansn/a62,62675,51181,82899,300 The remuneration policy for the principal officers is recommended and monitored by CGMA’s Remuneration Committee. A representative of Defra attends the Committee but is not a member of the Committee. The pay is set by the CGMA Board.   The position and pay of each of the principal officers is reported in CGMA’s Annual Report & Accounts, copies of which have been laid in the libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

Avian Influenza

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidences of avian influenza have been reported in each of the last 36 months.

George Eustice: From July 2012 to July 2015 there have been three cases of notifiable avian influenza confirmed in the UK.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Hinkley Point C Power Station: Freedom of Information

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what freedom of information (FOI) requests her Department has received on evidence submitted to the European Commission as part of the UK's challenge to the decision made by the European Commission on the application for state aid for Hinkley Point C; and what responses have been made to each such FOI request.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Energy and Climate Change has received two relevant requests. The first in October 2014 asked: Please would you send me under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 full documentation provided to the European Commission is support of the UK application for State Aid agreement on the Hinkley Point C nuclear project, in electronic format if possible, including: a report by KPMG on potential distortions to competition; a report by Oxera on market failures, proportionality and potential distortions of competition; a study by Pöyry on potential distortions to the internal market and alternatives to new nuclear; report by Redpoint on the evolution of the UK electricity sector; & details of the Cost Discovery and Verification process, compiled by KPMG and LeighFisher;The second in December 2014 asked :   I seek disclosure of seven specific documents which the British government appear to have submitted to the EC in defence of its proposed state subsidy to EDF to build nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in Somerset. The EC approved this state subsidy on 8th October 14.We know of the existence of these documents following a leaked paper as reported by German newspaper der Spiegel. The leaked paper was drafted under the supervision of outgoing competition commissioner Joaquín Almunia. It references these seven documents as follows:· Modelling work by DECC and analysis of counterfactual scenarios;· Report by Oxera on market failures, proportionality, and potential distortions of competition;· Poyry study on potential distortions to the internal market and alternatives to nuclear;· Redpoint report on the evolution of the electricity sector;· A description of Cost Discovery and Verification process, which involved KPMG and LeighFisher;· KPMG report on potential distortions to competition;· Benchmarking work on the rate of return.In both instances all information held by DECC was withheld and both decisions are now being appealed to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Offshore Industry: North Sea

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the time taken for safety-critical maintenance work to be completed on offshore oil and gas installations in the North Sea in 2014; and what criteria are used to prioritise such work.

Andrea Leadsom: The regulation of the safety of offshore oil and gas installations is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and DECC has not carried out specific assessments in relation to safety-critical maintenance. However DECC and the Oil and Gas Authority are in regular contact with the HSE regarding offshore infrastructure issues and together, we aim to ensure that industry resources are directed to maximising safe, sustainable production.

Climate Change

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to section 4.2 of the Summer Budget 2015, what steps she plans to take to ensure that making the most of the UK's oil and gas resources is compatible with the Government pushing for a global climate deal that keeps the goal of limiting global warming to two degrees.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is seeking a deal in Paris in December that keeps the goal of limiting average global emissions to below 2°C within reach. The UK has led in taking action to reduce its emissions and has reduced them by 30% since 1990. Our carbon budgets are set to deliver emissions reductions that put us on a pathway to deliver our 2°C consistent 2050 target. They take account of the fact that Britain will still need significant oil and gas supplies while we decarbonise our economy and transition to a low carbon economy, as set out in our 2011 Carbon Plan. Projections show that in 2030 oil and gas will remain a vital part of the energy mix, providing around 70 per cent of the UK’s primary energy requirements. It makes sense to make the most of the UK’s oil and gas resource as any oil and gas that we do not produce ourselves has to be imported, resulting in additional transportation costs and emissions, and increasing levels of production will help maintain security of supply as well as boost growth and jobs.

Climate Change: Human Rights

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Action; whether the Government plans to sign up to that Pledge before the 2015 UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has had no recent discussions with my rt. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Action. The UK participates in in the United Nations Human Rights Council, which has adopted several resolutions on human rights and climate change, including one in June this year. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them. It has the ability to discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations that require its attention throughout the year. It meets at the UN Office at Geneva. The Council is made up of 47 United Nations Member States which are elected by the UN General Assembly.

Energy: Disadvantaged

Byron Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress her Department has made on introducing enhanced data sharing to allow energy suppliers to deliver more targeted support to customers in the Broader Group.

Andrea Leadsom: The Warm Home Discount scheme is established in regulations until March 2016. Recent changes to the regulations included the introduction of standard eligibility criteria to make it simpler for customers under the Broader Group to access the scheme.

Temperature

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with the Meteorological Office on its finding that 1 July 2015 was the hottest July day recorded in the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department is in regular contact with the Met Office. While we have had no specific discussions in relation to this, we are also aware that issues raised by the media with regards the accuracy of this measurement have been answered by the Met Office on their website.

Wind Power: Subsidies

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the value was of subsidies to onshore wind energy providers in each of the last three years.

Andrea Leadsom: Onshore wind has received support over the past three years from the Renewables Obligation (RO) and the Feed-in Tariff (FITs) schemes.The cost of supporting onshore wind through the RO in 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/14 was as follows (figures not adjusted for inflation): 2011/122012/132013/14Onshore wind£483m£557m£756mOutturn data is not yet available for spend in 2014/15, but we would expect an increase in the total level of support for onshore wind as there was a higher level deployment.Some small-scale onshore wind was supported by the FIT, but FIT costs are not available disaggregated by technology.

Solar Power

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what guidance her Department has published on the effect of loft extensions on the installation of solar roof panels.

Andrea Leadsom: DECC has not published any such guidance. Quality and standards for solar PV are administered by the Micro-generation Certification Scheme (MCS) which certifies installers under the MCS Certificate and Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC).

UN Climate Change Conference

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress has been made on (a) negotiation on and (b) preparations for the November 2015 climate change conference; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government is committed to securing an ambitious, legally binding, global deal on climate change at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December.With other countries we are making steady progress to secure an ambitious global deal in Paris. My rt. hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change are actively engaging in preparations for Paris. Alongside other G7 leaders, the Prime Minister called for priority to be given to delivering an ambitious climate agreement at this year’s COP. The G7 statement included strong language on the need for a deal in Paris, on climate finance and on future ambition. The endorsement by G7 leaders has provided further positive momentum. The Secretary of State has also met her international counterparts to discuss the key issues for the Conference in Paris on several occasions, including at the Petersburg Dialogue in Berlin, at the G7 Climate Ministers meeting, the EU Environment Council, and most recently at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change in Luxembourg last week.Intended Nationally Determined Contributions covering 46 countries have been received, including from the EU, US, China, South Korea, Mexico, Russia and Canada, covering over 58% of emissions. The UK is calling for the pace of negotiations to accelerate and actively encouraging other countries to come forward with ambitious INDCs as soon as possible.There remains a lot of work to do. But my Ministerial colleagues and I will take every opportunity to press for an agreement which includes greenhouse gas reduction targets from all countries that together keep the global goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees within reach, a regular review of targets and a global long term goal, and a set of rules that ensure transparency and accountability of commitments and allows the world to track progress.

River Ouse: Renewable Energy

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential use of the River Ouse as a source of renewable energy.

Andrea Leadsom: Rivers can supply renewable energy in two main ways: they can provide hydro-electric power, and they can provide heat for water-sourced heat pumps.The Department published a digital water source heat map in March 2015. The map estimates the potential thermal capacity of rivers, estuaries, canals and coastal sites in England. The map seeks to raise awareness of this potential source of renewable heat which can be utilised through the deployment of water source heat pumps supplying district heating networks and other users.The map estimates the total heat capacity from the River Ouse at 505 Megawatts, enough to potentially heat 74,000 homes, subject to environmental and other location-specific consents.Water source heat pumps are eligible for support through the Renewable Heat Incentive and heat network projects taken forward by Local Authorities can apply for support from the Heat Network Delivery Unit.

Fuel Poverty: Mobile Homes

Seema Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that the fuel poverty strategy benefits people living in park homes.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government will be guided by the fuel poverty strategy published in March 2015 which sets out a clear policy of working towards improving energy efficiency standards across the English housing stock, including in the homes of the fuel poor. The strategy highlighted a concern relating to issues faced by park home residents in keeping their homes warm. Therefore, the Government is undertaking further research and working with stakeholders to understand the drivers of fuel poverty in park homes.DECC has also been ensuring park homes residents are able to benefit from our existing schemes targeted at the fuel poor such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Warm Home Discount (WHD).

Nuclear Power

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2015 published on 15 July 2015; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department is aware of this report. As with the many reports and papers that are published on nuclear energy, DECC officials are examining the report to determine if there is any new information presented that the Government should take into consideration.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for the Law Officers Departments from the Living Wage Foundation.

Robert Buckland: This government is the first government to introduce a compulsory National Living Wage as of April 2016.   All employers, including government departments, will be required to comply with the new National Living Wage of £7.20/ph for those aged 25 and above, as set out in the Budget, which is expected to reach £9 p/h by 2020.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Alun Cairns: This government is the first government to introduce a compulsory Living Wage.All employers will be required to comply with the new national Living Wage of £7.20/ph for those 25 and above, as set out in the Budget.

Ministry of Justice

First Offenders: Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of defendants with no previous convictions or cautions were given a custodial sentence for a first offence in magistrates' courts in 2014.

Andrew Selous: Whilst crime is falling, offenders committing serious offences are more likely to be sent to prison and for longer; Sentencing Guidelines make clear that custodial sentences should be reserved for the most serious offenders. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, which take into account all the facts of each individual case. Offenders with no previous convictions, are generally less likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence than a repeat offender. The information requested is contained in the table below. Number and proportion of offenders(1) with no previous convictions or cautions(2) who were sentenced to an immediate custodial sentence for a first offence in a magistrates court, 2010 to 2014.Year ending DecemberImmediate custodial sentenceAll disposals(3) Proportion given an immediate custodial sentence 201493154,030 1.7%   Source: Ministry of Justice, Police National Computer (PNC)(1) Figures are based on counting the number of sentencing occasions for offences committed by offenders which were prosecuted by police forces in England and Wales including the British Transport Police.(2) Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a conviction, caution or the youth caution for any offences recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where there were multiple offences on the same occasion, only the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.(3) Includes some deferred sentences that the police will update on the Police National computer at a later date when the final decision is known.

Ministry of Justice: Press

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2015 t Question 5246, to which periodicals and newspapers his Department's office at 102 Petty France, Westminster subscribes; how many copies of each such periodical and newspaper his Department at that address receives each day; and what the cost of subscribing to such newspapers and periodicals sent to this address was in 2014.

Dominic Raab: This information is not held centrally and collecting it would incur disproportionate cost.

Magistrates: Bankruptcy

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what rules apply to membership of Magistrates' Courts' Benches by discharged bankrupts.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In order for the public to have full confidence in the magistracy, certain factors may affect a person’s eligibility for appointment as a magistrate. While the Senior Presiding Judge will not appoint an un-discharged bankrupt, individuals who have been discharged from bankruptcy are not automatically disqualified for appointment. Such cases are considered carefully on their individual merits.

Courts: Fines

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many fines have been (a) issued by courts and (b) collected in 2014-15 to date.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last four years. The amount of money collected has risen from £290m at the end of 2013/14 to a record of £310 million at the end of 2014/15. This is an increase of £20m (7%) in cash collection of financial impositions (excluding confiscation) compared to that collected in 2013/14. The number of financial imposition accounts opened and closed since 2012 is published here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015 Financial impositions include fines imposed in the Magistrates and Crown courts, costs orders, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and unpaid fixed penalty notices and penalty notices for disorder which are registered as fines for enforcement.

Life Imprisonment: Rape

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders were sentenced to life imprisonment for the offence of rape in each of the last five years.

Andrew Selous: Rape carries a maximum penalty of a life sentence. In addition, since December 2012 an automatic life sentence applies to any offender convicted of a second very serious sexual crime. The courts impose tough sentences and more adult sex offenders are being imprisoned, and for longer. The average custodial sentence length has increased from seven years’ imprisonment in 2004 to nearly 10 years’ imprisonment in 2014, not including cases where an indeterminate sentence was imposed. The number of offenders sentenced at all courts to immediate custody for life for rape offences in England and Wales, in 2010 to 2014, can be viewed in the CJS Outcomes by Offence data tool in the recent Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly (December 2014) release. It can be viewed using the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014 The proportion of offenders sentenced at all courts for rape offences who were sentenced to immediate custody for life over the same time period, in England and Wales, can be viewed in the table below. Proportion of offenders sentenced at all courts for rape offences who were sentenced to immediate custody for life(1), England and Wales, 2010 to 2014 (2)(3) 20102011201220132014 1%2%2%3%3% (1) Includes offences under SS.1 & 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and S.7 Sexual Offences Act 1956. Includes attempted rape. (2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.Ref: PQ 6635

Prisons: Postal Services

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2015 to Question 3782, in which prisons each of the (a) illegal items and (b) other items were found in each package that contained illegal items; and what each of those items were.

Andrew Selous: A range of measures are used by NOMS to prevent trafficking of items into prisons. There is a requirement for prisons to record centrally instances where drugs, mobile phones and firearms (including chemical incapacitants and ammunition) are seized coming into prison, but there is no such requirement in respect of other items. During the period 1 February to 31 May 2015, there were 268 instances recorded where reportable illegal items were found in packages1 sent to prisoners. The following table lists the (a) prisons and (b) corresponding reportable illegal items which were found.1 ‘Packages’ includes those incoming items recorded as “parcels”, “post”, “mail” or “packages”.



Table - Prisoners and Reportable Illegal Items
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24 KB)

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for rape was for an individual convicted of a further offence of rape in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most recent offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for theft was for an individual convicted of a further theft offence in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most such recent offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for violence against the person offences was for an individual convicted of a further violence against the person offence in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most such recent offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for sexual offences involving a child was for an individual convicted of a further sexual offence involving a child in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most recent such offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for robbery was for an individual convicted of a further offence of robbery in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most recent offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the highest number of previous convictions for knife offences was for an individual convicted of a further knife offence in the last 10 years; and what the sentence was for the most recent offence.

Andrew Selous: Whilst crime is falling, offenders committing serious offences are more likely to go to prison and for longer. Sentencing is a matter for our independent courts, taking into account all the facts of each case. Where the offender has recent and relevant previous convictions this is a statutory aggravating factor which should increase the severity of the sentence. In addition, since December 2012 an automatic life sentence applies to any offender convicted of a second very serious sexual crime. A third conviction for a domestic burglary has a minimum sentence of three years’ imprisonment. Since December 2012, threatening with a knife or bladed article in a school or public place has a minimum sentence of six months’ imprisonment, or four months’ detention for a 16 or 17 year old offender. From 17 July 2015, offenders convicted of a second or subsequent offence of possession of a knife or offensive weapon will be subject to a minimum sentence of six months’ imprisonment. The table below shows the highest number of previous convictions of an offender convicted of the same offence and the sentence received for the most recent offence in England and Wales, 2005 – 2014. The individual with the highest number of previous convictions for theft from 2010 to 2014 is the same individual. The individual with the highest number of knife offences was convicted of possession, not using a knife during the course of a more serious crime. Table 1: The highest number of previous convictions1,2 of an offender convicted of the same offence and the sentence received for the most recent offence in England and Wales, 2005 - 2014YearOffence typeHighest number of previous convictions for same offence typeSentence for most recent offence2005Rape2Immediate CustodyKnife Offences10Immediate CustodyRobbery9Immediate CustodyTheft233Immediate CustodyViolence against the Person23Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child5Immediate Custody2006Rape3Immediate CustodyKnife Offences15Community SentenceRobbery6Immediate CustodyTheft238Immediate CustodyViolence against the Person25Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child8Immediate Custody2007Rape3Immediate custodyKnife Offences16Community SentenceRobbery9Immediate custodyTheft240FineViolence against the Person17FineSexual offences involving a child5FineSexual offences involving a child5Immediate custody2008Rape2Immediate custodyKnife Offences12Community SentenceRobbery8Immediate custodyTheft245Other3Violence against the Person14Immediate custodySexual offences involving a child8Immediate custody2009Rape2Immediate custodyKnife Offences13Community SentenceRobbery7Immediate custodyTheft249Immediate custodyViolence against the Person19Immediate custodySexual offences involving a child8Immediate custody2010Rape2Immediate custodyKnife Offences11Immediate custodyRobbery8Immediate CustodyTheft172Immediate custodyViolence against the Person27Immediate custodySexual offences involving a child6Immediate custody2011Rape2Immediate CustodyKnife Offences16Immediate CustodyRobbery8Immediate CustodyTheft183Immediate CustodyViolence against the Person30Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child12Immediate Custody2012Rape2Immediate CustodyKnife Offences17Immediate CustodyRobbery7Immediate CustodyTheft188Fully SuspendedViolence against the Person37Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child7Immediate Custody2013Rape2Immediate CustodyKnife Offences10Fully suspendedRobbery8Immediate CustodyTheft203Immediate CustodyViolence against the Person19Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child8Immediate Custody2014Rape3Immediate CustodyKnife Offences18Immediate CustodyRobbery10Immediate CustodyTheft210Immediate CustodyViolence against the Person22Immediate CustodySexual offences involving a child6Immediate CustodyData Source: Ministry of Justice copy of the Police National Computer 1. Figures are based on counting the number of occasions on which offenders have previously received a conviction recorded on the Police National Computer, including some offences committed outside of England and Wales. Where there were multiple offences on the same occassion, only the primary offence as recorded on the Police National Computer would be counted.2. All data have been taken from the MoJ extract of the Police National Computer. This includes details of all convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings given for recordable offences (see www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1139/schedule/made for definition). It is therefore possible that some offenders presented in the table above have previously also received convictions for offences not recorded on the PNC.3. Includes some deferred sentences that the police will update on the Police National computer at a later date when the final decision is known.4. Where offenders have the same number of previous convictions but different disposals for the most recent offence, these have been shown separately.

Crime: Victims

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to introduce victim awareness training for lawyers in accordance with Article 25 of Directive 2012/29/EU.

Mike Penning: The proper treatment of vulnerable victims and witnesses is a priority for the Government.Under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime, criminal justice service providers are required to treat victims in a respectful, sensitive and professional manner without discrimination of any kind. It also requires service providers to communicate with victims in simple and accessible language, taking appropriate measures where possible to assist victims to understand and be understood. The Ministry of Justice is working with the legal professions to devise a requirement that all publicly-funded advocates in sexual offences cases must undertake specialist training on working with vulnerable victims and witnesses. A report of the review of ways to reduce distress that some victims suffer from cross-examination in trials of sexual violence was published in March 2014 on the government website and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-on-review-of-ways-to-reduce-distress-of-victims-in-trials-of-sexual-violence. The requirement was a recommendation from the review and is intended to change attitudes and behaviours of advocates by equipping them with knowledge and skills for dealing with children and vulnerable people in trials of such offences. The Legal Aid Agency will implement this requirement in due course, and only those advocates who have done the training will be able to be instructed in and undertake serious sexual offences cases. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has a wide range of training on victim awareness for its lawyers. The CPS has developed a number of online e-Learning courses which specifically relate to victims. These are: The Victims’ Code; Victim Personal Statements; Supporting Vulnerable Victims and Witnesses; The Prosecutors’ Pledge; and Special Measures.  The CPS has also recently consulted publicly on the draft guidance on prosecutors speaking to victims and witnesses at court, and training is being designed to underpin that guidance once it is finalised.

Crime: Victims

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure compliance with Directive 2012/29/EU on ensuring minimum rights for victims by 16 November 2015.

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to introduce a victims' right to review decisions taken by the police not to prosecute in accordance with Article 11 of Directive 2012/29/EU.

Mike Penning: The Ministry of Justice has carried out a detailed analysis of the EU Victims’ Directive and we are on track to transpose the EU Victims’ Directive by November. Our main mechanism for describing victims’ rights is the Victims’ Code – a statutory code of practice. A consultation on the proposed revision of the Code was launched by the MoJ on 16th July 2015 and will run until 16 August 2015. The consultation is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/revising-the-victims-code Subject to consultation, the revised Victims’ Code will clarify that when the police or CPS make a decision not to prosecute, the victim is entitled to receive reasons why a decision was made not to prosecute, how they can access further information about the decision and how they can access a review of that decision in accordance with the respective victim right to review scheme.

Crime: Victims

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of existing victim support services to assess whether the UK will comply with Directive 2012/29/EU ensuring minimum rights for victims by 16 November 2015; and if he will publish the results of that assessment.

Mike Penning: Following public consultation in 2012 the Ministry of Justice moved to a model where Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for commissioning the majority of support services for victims of crime. While it is for Police and Crime Commissioners to determine local priorities for support for victims, they are required, under the terms of their grant funding, to provide or commission services which, when taken together with relevant existing provision, will satisfy the requirements of the Victims’ Directive (and in particular Articles 8 and 9). Police and Crime Commissioners are required to demonstrate to the Ministry of Justice how compliance with the conditions of the grant have been satisfied. Some services for victims remain nationally commissioned, by the Ministry of Justice, such as the national homicide service and court based witness service, and male and female rape support services. Where services have been nationally commissioned by the MoJ, the requirements on the service include that they are consistent with the requirements of the EU Directive on victims. Management of the grants for nationally commissioned services for victims will include ongoing assessment of how services for victims support delivery of the requirements of the EU Directive. In England & Wales the Government will discharge its responsibilities under the Victims’ Directive (establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime) not just through the victim support services funded by the Ministry of Justice and other Government departments, but also through other existing statutory and voluntary service provision.

Life Imprisonment

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2015 to Question 4022, how many of the cases in the negative outcomes category related to (a) transfer to an open prison and (b) release from prison.

Andrew Selous: During the period in question, all post-tariff indeterminate sentence prisoners who were in closed conditions were entitled to be considered for both transfer to open conditions and release. Those in open conditions were considered for release or continued suitability for open. All prisoners in the negative outcomes category as set out in Question 4022 received a negative decision regards to release.  In order to know how many received a negative decision in respect of transfer to open conditions, we would need to be able to identify, retrospectively, whether those prisoners were located in either open or closed prisons. Retrospective information on the location of a prisoner at the time of a parole review is not held centrally. To provide this information would require a manual trawl of cases and this would incur disproportionate costs.

Sentencing

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2015 to Question 3497, for what reason his Department was able to provide this information on 29 August 2013, Official Report, column 1034W, in relation to earlier years but is now unable to do so.

Andrew Selous: Whilst we have released information on the use of maximum sentences in the past in response to specific questions, we are now reviewing the data and developing a methodology which should allow us to publish statistics on this subject on a routine basis.  As part of this development, we are quality assuring the data held centrally on whether the maximum sentence length was applied, to assess whether it meets the requirements for publication in our ‘Criminal Justice Statistics’ National Statistics publication.  During this development period we are unable to provide updated figures.

Ministry of Justice: Living Wage

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if his will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.

Dominic Raab: Further to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952 I can confirm that, in line with the Government’s commitment given in the budget, the Ministry of Justice will continue to ensure staff are paid at or above the National Living Wage of £7.20 per hour which will be introduced in April 2016. All civil servants within the Ministry of Justice and its agencies excluding the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) were paid above the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation as a living wage on 1 August 2014.As of 31 March 2015, after the Foundation increased the rate in November 2014, 283 staff out of 23,598 direct employees within the Ministry of Justice HQ, HM Courts and Tribunal Service, Office of the Public Guardian and Legal Aid Agency were paid below the current living wage.As of 31 March 2015, there were 89 members of staff who currently earn below the living wage out of a total of 46,442 direct employees in NOMS (including the National Probation Service).The Secretary of State would like all MoJ staff to be paid at least the current living wage. The department is working to implement this as soon as possible.

Criminal Proceedings: North Wales

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the effect on criminal court proceedings in North Wales has been of the withdrawal of legal services by legal aid solicitors in that region.

Mr Shailesh Vara: We have asked courts to report daily on whether or not they are being adversely affected by this action. Courts in North Wales confirm that all courts are sitting as scheduled and any impact of the action by solicitors has been minimal and isolated.

Courts: Safety

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of court and security staff following the attack on a custody officer at Blackfriars Crown Court on 29 June 2015.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The incident at Blackfriars Crown Court occurred within the custody suite, which is only routinely accessible to defendants and Prisoner Custody Officer (PCO) personnel. Controlled access for Court staff and Court Security personnel is permitted but is subject to a risk assessment by the Escort Contractor. There are existing security arrangements in place to ensure the safety of court users and staff when high risk offenders are moved from custody areas to court hearing rooms. These are managed by a risk assessment process that include moving the case to a secure dock, escort and supervision by additional Prisoner Custody Officers, and application of restraints in the dock with the agreement of a Judge. For defendant/witnesses required to give testimony from the witness stand an application for the use of restraints can also be made to the Judge. There is also a framework of security controls in place within courts, which operate on a day to day basis, to protect staff, users and the judiciary from harm. The National Offender Management Service is currently undertaking a full investigation into the incident at Blackfriars. The incident is also being investigated by the MET Police and an individual has been charged with murder. The NOMS investigation is due to report shortly and it would not be appropriate to comment further in light of the ongoing criminal investigation. Escort contractors are also reviewing their procedures in light of the incident.

Missing Persons

Stuart Blair Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to help families protect a missing person's financial and legal affairs.

Dominic Raab: Such arrangements are a devolved matter in Scotland but I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for York Outer on 15 June 2015 regarding our proposals for England and Wales, which can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&member=4079&uin=1400.

Prisoners: Compensation

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much compensation has been paid to prisoners in each of the last five years; for what reason the compensation was paid; and how many and what proportion of such cases were (a) settled and (b) ordered in court.

Andrew Selous: Compensation payments to prisoners can be made as a result of civil litigation, internal complaints, or recommendations made by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman and by the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) holds information in respect of public sector prisons in England and Wales only, and does not hold information relating to private (contracted out) prisons. The central financial records held by NOMS do not record the actual amount of compensation paid out to prisoners separately. To establish the actual compensation payments paid out to prisoners would require each prison to examine locally held records to identify and separate any other associated costs included with payments against individual cases covering the last five year period, such as any associated legal costs that may relate to individual cases. This would be a significant exercise and could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Criminal Proceedings

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of collaborative technology in criminal court proceedings.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The introduction of collaborative technology in court will help transform the criminal justice system in England and Wales. This technology will allow parties in court to exchange information digitally for the first time. It also makes it possible for visual evidence to be presented to the court. The two main programmes working to introduce collaborative technology into courts are the Criminal Justice Efficiency Programme and the Common Platform programme. Both programmes have measures in place to assess their effectiveness and accessibility as they develop new services. Court users have been involved in product design and testing throughout. No service has been implemented without extensive user testing – including users of assistive technology. The services have also been tested on a range of browsers and hardware. For the online plea service, public take-up and user satisfaction are recorded, and usage rates are published. These programmes are laying the foundations of a reformed courts service that will provide swifter, more efficient, and more convenient access to justice. I am encouraged by their progress and my officials will continue to monitor their effectiveness as these reforms are rolled out more widely across the criminal justice system.

Courts: Fees and Charges

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what circumstances the criminal courts charge can be deemed to have been paid as a result of time spent in custody at the time of the imposition of the charge.

Mr Shailesh Vara: As with any financial imposition, when the criminal courts charge is imposed the offender will be expected to pay the full sum ordered. It will therefore be rare for a period of custody to be allowed in lieu of payment of the charge. There are, however, very limited circumstances in which it may be possible, for instance where the offender is of no fixed address and has no possible means to pay. Any such decision will be made by the court and is subject to judicial discretion.

Spring Hill Prison: Muslims

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners in HMP Springhill were Muslim on 16 May 2015.

Andrew Selous: The latest figures for HMP Spring Hill on religion of prisoners are from 31 March 2015. HMP Spring Hill and HMP Grendon report as a combined site and the number of Muslim prisoners in was 105.

Reoffenders

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a life sentence for rape who were released in the last 10 years have subsequently committed a further such offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a life sentence for a sexual offence involving a child who were released in the last 10 years have subsequently committed a further such offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a life sentence for a homicide offence who were released in the last 10 years have subsequently committed a further such offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a life sentence for a violence against the person  offence who were released in the last 10 years have subsequently committed a further such offence.

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people given a life sentence for burglary who were released in the last 10 years have subsequently committed a further such offence.

Andrew Selous: Public protection is our priority, and any offender serving a life sentence will, pursuant a release decision by the independent Parole Board, be subject to strict controls and conditions and managed by the Police and Probation Services, working with other agencies, as necessary. An offender subject to a life licence may be recalled to custody if he breaches the conditions of the life licence in such a way that the protection of the public would be put at risk by allowing him to remain in the community. From 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2015 there are no recorded cases of offenders released on life licence, having been sentenced to life imprisonment for an offence of rape who were convicted of a further offence of rape.  From 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2015 there are no recorded cases of offenders released on life licence, having been sentenced to life imprisonment for a sexual offence involving a child, who were convicted of a further sexual offence involving a child.  Also from 1 July 2005 – 30 June 2015 there were 8 offenders released on life licence, having been sentenced to life imprisonment for a homicide offence, who were convicted of a further offence of homicide. These offences fall in scope of the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Review Procedures, and relate to those offences contained in Schedule 15a of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which attract a sentence of 14 years or more. Other offences of violence against the person and burglary do not fall in scope of the Probation SFO Review Procedures. Data on offenders released on a life licence who have committed offences other than those in scope of the SFO Review Procedures are not held centrally in a readily accessible format for the last ten years. To obtain these data would exceed cost limits.

Courts: Debt Collection

Jo Stevens: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the successful bidder for the Compliance and Enforcement Service contract will have access to personal data held on defaulters by HM Revenue and Customs and |the Department for Work and Pensions.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Section 27 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 provides for the disclosure of personal information held by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions to facilitate the collection of fines and impositions by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service or a third party supplier of Compliance and Enforcement Services. Any provider of Compliance and Enforcement Services requiring access to this data would need to enter into their own access agreements with the relevant Government Departments.

Crime: Victims

Keir Starmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish a Victims' Bill to enshrine key rights for victims in law.

Mike Penning: We will publish draft clauses in due course.

Unpaid Fines

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the value is of outstanding fines that were written off in each of the last five years; and how many outstanding fines were written off in each such year.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last four years. The amount of money collected at the end of 2013/14 was £290 million. The amount of money collected reached a record high of £310 million at the end of 2014/15 an increase of £20m (7%) in cash collection of financial impositions (excluding confiscation) compared to that collected in 2013/14. The table below shows the total value of financial impositions cancelled in England and Wales in each of the last five years. YearTotal Value Legally Cancelled regardless of Imposition dateTotal Value Administratively Cancelled regardless of Imposition date2010/2011£62,263,874 £50,713,367 2011/2012£63,957,203 £63,135,442 2012/2013£62,594,601 £75,868,426 2013/2014£64,312,383 £96,801,853 2014/2015£61,173,156£68,851,118  The total amounts cancelled can relate to impositions made in the year stated or any previous year. These figures include fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders Financial impositions are only administratively cancelled after all attempts to collect the amount outstanding have been made, and in accordance with strict cancellation criteria. These impositions can be written back on to the system if more information is found – for instance, a new address for the offender. Legal cancellations can be applied after the case has been reconsidered by a Judge or Magistrate. Typically, legal cancellations are used where a case has been re-opened and the defendant has been found not guilty, following the presentation of additional information. Legal cancellations can be full or partial remittances of financial impositions. We do not have information on the number of accounts cancelled; we cannot separate the total number of accounts closed in the period to distinguish between the number that were closed due to payment and those closed due to administrative or legal cancellation.

Exhumation

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what rules govern the removal of buried bodies to new locations from their lawful place of burial; and how many bodies are currently scheduled to be so moved.

Caroline Dinenage: Under section 25 of the Burial Act 1857 (as amended) buried human remains can only be exhumed on the authority of the Secretary of State or under a faculty from the Church of England (in the case of exhumations from consecrated ground). My department receives approximately 25 applications a week to exhume single sets of buried human remains and approximately 8 applications a week to exhume remains for archaeological or development purposes.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Staff

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff were employed by (a) HM Courts Service and (b) the Tribunals Service in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Ministry of Justice, including HMCTS, staffing figures are published monthly on the gov.uk website. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management-information-moj.

Adoption

Mr Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many emergency protection orders there were in England between 2010 and 2015; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the level of scrutiny for such orders.

Caroline Dinenage: The number of Emergency Protection Orders is published as part of the Family Court Statistics Quarterly publication. Data is available from 2011 up to January to March 2015 and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2015. On 24 June the Prime Minister announced a new Child Protection Taskforce chaired by the Secretary of State for Education. The Prime Minister’s announcement can be found online here: www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-taskforce-to-transform-child-protection. The Taskforce will lead work to: extend and accelerate reforms to the quality of social work practice and leadership; develop better multi-agency working between children’s social care, the police, health and other local services; improve local authority performance and promote innovative practice; and strengthen governance and accountability in children’s social care.

Crown Prosecution Service

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the timeliness of the provision of Crown Prosecution Service papers in court.

Mike Penning: Through the Transforming Summary Justice initiative we are working to encourage better case preparation-by police, CPS and defence to ensure that the right information is in place at the right time.

Scotland Office

Welfare State: Scotland

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government's welfare programme on social and economic inequalities in Scotland.

David Mundell: The Government is bringing forward new measures in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill which support our commitments to increase employment; slow the growth of the welfare budget to help achieve a more sustainable welfare system; and support the policy of rewarding hard work while increasing fairness with working households.

Trade Unions: Scotland

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what meetings his Department has had with (a) the Scottish Trades Union Congress and (b) individual affiliated trades unions in the last 12 months.

David Mundell: Over the last 12 months my Department has engaged (a) twice with the Scottish Trade Union Congress and (b) twice, at roundtable events with several affiliated unions.

Dover House

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many events have been hosted by non-government bodies at Dover House since he assumed his current appointment.

David Mundell: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



A variety of events have been hosted in Dover House, both by Scotland Office Ministers and by third parties. Events are aimed at engaging stakeholders on a wide variety of policy issues and aspects of life in Scotland.Since I was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in May 2015 there have been five events hosted by non-government bodies at Dover House.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Ministers from the Scottish Government on the implications of holding a referendum on the UK's membership of the EU on the same day as the elections to the Scottish Parliament.

David Mundell: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



The Government has amended the EU Referendum Bill so the referendum will not be held on 5 May 2016.

Devolution: Scotland

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his contribution in the House on 8 June 2015, Official Report, column 926, what comparative assessment he has made of the scope of powers devolved to the Scottish Parliament, if the Scotland Bill is passed, and comparable European and North American legislatures.

David Mundell: The Scottish Parliament will be one of the most powerful devolved legislatures in the world once the Scotland Bill is enacted. Compared to the average position of sub-central governments within the OECD, the Scottish Parliament will be among the most powerful in terms of tax and spending powers just behind Canadian provinces and Swiss cantons, and ahead of devolved legislatures in Australian states and German Länder.

Cabinet Office

House of Lords: Reform

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on introducing elections to the House of Lords.

John Penrose: The Government believes that there is still a strong case for introducing an elected element into the House of Lords, but this is not a priority at present given the other significant constitutional reforms we have promised.

Government Departments: Reviews

Martyn Day: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what cross-departmental reviews are being undertaken by his Department; and what the extent and nature of the engagement with the devolved administrations is for each such review.

Mr Oliver Letwin: Holding answer received on 20 July 2015



There are currently two cross-departmental review processes being run by the Cabinet Office. The first is focussed on National Security, refreshing the 2010 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. The second is the Bribery and Corruption enforcement review. The next iteration of the National Security Strategy and the Strategic Defence and Security Review will cover reserved matters. The Cabinet Office plans to consult a wide range of stakeholders, including the Devolved Administrations. The Bribery and Corruption enforcement review has consulted widely, including with relevant agencies of the Devolved Administrations. These include the National Counter Corruption Unit of Police Scotland, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. There are also a number of cross-departmental review processes being run, for example the ‘Cutting Red Tape’ programme and the Resilience Review. These reviews consult widely, including with relevant agencies of the Devolved Administrations where appropriate, usually via the Lead Government Departments. I will write to the Honourable Member in the Autumn to provide a more detailed update of the cross-departmental review processes being undertaken by the Cabinet Office, and will place a copy of this letter in the library of the House.

Government Departments: Advertising

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much each Department spent on each method of advertising in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: We have substantially reformed government communications since the 2010 General Election, abolishing the Central Office of Information and ensuring that Government communications activity is better coordinated and more effective.  Information on individual Departments spend on advertising is not held centrally.

Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2015 to Question 2556, whether, under his plans, digital illiteracy will stay above the target of 10 per cent of the population until 2026.

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which digital inclusion programmes central government departments and non-departmental public bodies are (a) funding or (b) participating in.

Matthew Hancock: The Government published its Digital Inclusion Strategy in April 2014 when 11 million people were digitally excluded. It committed to a 25% reduction by 2016, and a further 25% every two years thereafter. On this basis, over 90% of the adult population will be digitally capable by 2020. Government has committed to making digital inclusion part of the development of wider policy, programmes and digital services. The government does not collect data on all programmes that include a digital inclusion component, nor on local level initiatives. Government invests through a variety of programmes, ranging from the national super-fast broadband roll out, to the Digital Deal scheme for housing associations and funding for digital skills training through the Skills Funding Agency. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is funding a basic digital skills programme to reach 1 million digitally excluded people over 5 years, in addition to the 1.25 million adults helped under the previous programme.  In addition to specific digital inclusion related skills programmes, £7.4m has been committed to funding free wifi and internet access for libraries in England.

Childbirth: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many births were recorded at (a) West Cumberland Hospital and (b) Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Reply
(PDF Document, 113.5 KB)

National Security

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will assess the vulnerability of the UK to economic and financial warfare when developing the National Security Strategy.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The 2015 National Security Strategy, informed by the National Security Risk Assessment, is considering a wide range of risks including those to our economic and financial security.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Women and Sport Advisory Board

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what work the Ministerial Advisory Group on Women and Sport has undertaken since its inception.

Tracey Crouch: The Women and Sport Advisory Board was convened under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition Government, to bring together experts from across a number of sectors (sport, the media, commercial) in order to formulate practical solutions for making progress on women’s involvement in sport. The Board's term ended in March 2015, culminating in a final report- link as follows [ https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sports-minister-urges-sector-to-keep-up-momentum-on-women-in-sport ]. The recommendations from this will feed into the new Sport Strategy due to be published later this year.

Broadband: Finance

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department's innovation fund was funded from the BBC's funding for broadband.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The funding for the innovation fund which was created in order to explore ways to take superfast broadband to hardest to reach places was allocated by the Exchequer, not from the BBC’s funding for broadband.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Internet

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on producing and maintaining dcmsblog.uk in each of the last five years; and how many unique visitors that blog has received in each such year.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department spent £5,550 on redesigning and rebuilding its blog platform in 2014. The blog is hosted on a shared platform and does not incur any additional on-going hosting and maintenance costs. All blog content and production is carried out in-house, which is managed jointly across the communications team with no additional spend. The breakdown below provides numbers of users to the DCMS blog since 28 July 2011. There is no data available before this date. These figures show that during 2012 and 2013 the DCMS blog played a key role in supporting a number of high-profile campaigns, including the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, resulting in a higher volume of blogs posted during this time which is reflected in a higher return in traffic. These figures also demonstrate how the blog is consistently meeting its objective to introduce a higher percentage of new audiences to our policies, the sectors we support and the voice of the people who champion them. · 2015 (to 17 July 2015): 6,984 users, of which 82.4% were new visitors and 17.6% were returning visitors· 2014: 13,063 users, of which 82.6% were new visitors and 17.4% were returning· 2013: 26,152 users of which 77.5% were new visitors and 22.5% were returning· 2012: 38,575 users of which 74.8% were new visitors and 25.2% were returning· 2011 (from 28 July): 9,667 of which 79.3% were new visitors and 20.7% were returningSince the DCMS blog was launched in 2010, the Department has gone on to establish itself on a wider range of free social media channels targeted to its audiences and the evolving social media landscape.

Digital Broadcasting: Wales

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of DAB radio reception across Wales; what information his Department holds on which areas in Wales have poor DAB reception; what steps his Department has taken to improve poor reception in such areas; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government is working with the radio industry to improve digital radio coverage for listeners across the UK. DCMS is providing up to £7.75m of capital funding to support investment made by commercial radio and supported by the BBC to expand the coverage local DAB network across the UK towards commercial FM equivalence. The programme will see a total of 182 new digital transmitters built across Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and technical modifications and frequency changes at a further 49 existing transmitter sites across the UK by the end of September 2016. Wales,will receive around 9% of the total DCMS capital funding to improve the coverage of local DAB including BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru. Ofcom, the independent communications regulator has worked closely with the radio industry to develop a coverage plan for the local DAB network expansion to determine the most technically efficient way of matching DAB coverage levels to FM. Ofcom has published detailed maps outlining the improvements to local DAB network coverage for each of the local digital radio multiplex areas in Wales – i.e. Swansea, South East Wales, Mid & West Wales, North East Wales and West Cheshire and North West Wales - as a result of the local DAB expansion programme. These maps are available at the following web address http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/broadcasting/radio/coverage/dab-coverage-plans/ Ofcom’s analysis of local DAB coverage of households (percentage) in Wales is summarised in the following table. Local DABCurrently(1% time interference)Local DABpredicted end of 2016(1% time interference)63%85.4%  For comparison current figures for BBC national and commercial radio FM household coverage (percentage) in Wales are in the following table. These are not directly comparable to the DAB coverage figures, mainly because although it is possible to receive FM reception (albeit poor quality) with low signal strength, DAB reception is either good or completely absent. BBC FM coverage (robust indoor -54dB)Commercial FM coverage (robust indoor - 54dB)87.1%54.1%

Journalism: Qualifications

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from journalists on the practice of regional publications not recruiting journalists who have qualifications equivalent to the National Council for the Training of Journalists from EU member states other than the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: No representations have so far been received from journalists on the practice of regional publications not recruiting journalists who have qualifications equivalent to the National Council for the Training of Journalists from EU member states other than the UK.

Music: Video Recordings

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the music industry on a voluntary video rating and classification code for music videos.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The British Board of Film, the music industry and digital service providers are currently piloting voluntary video ratings for online music videos. To date 123 videos have been classified under this voluntary pilot and some 3000 members of the public are taking part in an evaluation of its impact. We look forward to seeing the results of the evaluation and will work with the industry to ensure that in future all online music videos that are inappropriate for younger children are age labelled.In the offline world, last year we brought into force new legislation which requires music videos on DVD to be classified by the BBFC if they are unsuitable for children below the age of 12 and to carry the relevant BBFC age rating symbol on their packaging. It is a criminal offence to supply a music DVD rated BBFC 12, 16, 18 or R18 to anyone not meeting the age requirement.

House of Commons Commission

Divisions: Technology

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the change in the cost of electronic upgrades for recording divisions arising from proposed changes to Standing Orders on English votes on English laws.

Tom Brake: I refer the hon. Member to my answer yesterday to Questions 7244 and 7245.

Select Committees: Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress has been made on developing device independent applications for the distribution of select committee papers.

Tom Brake: Documents for select committees are circulated to committee members electronically, predominantly in PDF format; a format that can be read on a number of different devices. Following the decision of the House of Commons Commission, 557 Members have been issued with an iPad. Support for the system of distributing papers has focused mainly on the needs of iPad users, including software to allow the synching and personal annotation of documents. Members are not restricted to using iPads and can access the folders used for distributing committee documents on a desktop or laptop computer and, if they wish, copy them onto a tablet device of their choice. Alternative methods of distributing papers are being investigated and the Liaison Committee will be consulted to ensure that the views of Members are taken into account. Device independence remains a key requirement.

House of Commons: Uniforms

Phil Boswell: To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to allow door-keeping staff a summer uniform made from lighter materials to reduce discomfort in hot weather.

Tom Brake: Doorkeeping staff who perform a variety of outside and inside duties have a range of uniforms to wear as appropriate. Senior Doorkeepers who exclusively perform inside duties, and predominantly around the Chamber (which has cooling), have one uniform. These uniforms are 'bespoke' and to provide a second uniform would have considerable resource implications. The Serjeant at Arms has not received any requests from the Doorkeeping staff to either create a summer version of the uniform or to 'dress down' during hotter weather.